Women groups and local residential associations are up in arms against the opening of toddy shops in the city. They complain of nuisance around the toddy compounds and are apprehensive of safety issues.
Starting as a mere outcry, the protests have intensified in the last few days and started to take a violent turn. A group of women entered into a toddy compound and damaged the toddy bottles as a mark of protest. Locals of Lal Darwaza, Chaderghat and Kulsumpura and a few areas of Secunderabad also staged demonstrations.
“Women will be victimised by the visitors to toddy outlets. The authorities should not issue permission for opening the outlets in residential areas,” a housewife from Lal Darwaza complained.
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The then Congress government headed by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had banned the toddy shops in 2004 following complaints of nuisance being created around toddy shops. The ban was lifted by the TRS government soon after it came to power keeping its promise of restarting toddy compounds in the city for the benefit of the toddy-tappers’ community. Coinciding with Dasara festival, a few toddy shops were also opened in the city.
Despite protests, the Prohibition and Excise officials continue to process the applications received by them. “We are strictly adhering to the rules while granting permissions for toddy shops in the city. Of the 103 shops notified, permission for 40 has been granted and some shops have already started functioning,” Deputy Commissioner Prohibition and Excise (P&E), Hyderabad, M.M.A. Farooqui said. He admits that some persons have approached him with complaints.