As a foreign liquor shop has been opened within one km radius of famous sweet water lake of Ansupa three years back, it has cast a negative spell on the image of the picnic spot.

locals are vehemently opposing it since due to the sale of liquor in the area, drunkards are causing nuisance to the tourists.

Recently ZP member of Saranda Nalini Dalai, Sarapanchs of Subarnapur,

Kantapahanra, Kadalibadi and Ostia along with locals of the adjoining areas of Ansupa have submitted a memorandum to the Cuttack Collector with its copy to the Excise Minister, the Secretary, the Superintendent and the Commissioner, besides the Banki Sub-Collector in this respect requesting them to shift the Fl shop to a distant place from Ansupa tourist destination.

They alleged that anti-social activities like eve teasing, group clash, snatching, robbery and dacoity have increased in the Ansupa picnic spot area, besides regular accidents on the road.

local representatives have alleged that before opening of the liquor shop, no notice was served to them. The Government machinery had done it in a hush -hush way without caring to take the consent of the locals. Balunkeswar Vana Surakshya Samiti secretary Pramila Pradhan alleged that drunkards throw broken wine bottles in and around the picnic spot and taking away boats forcibly for boating. Some students and staff of Saranda Degree College of the area alleged that since the foreign liquor shop has been opened in front of their college, they are frequently being victimised. Especially the girl students are facing eve teasing.

Kantapahanra Sarapanch Gatikrushna Swain alleged that as the Subarnapur-Jatamundia bridge has been opened recently, thousands of passers-by communicate on the road who are harassed by the drunkards.

Over the written applications by different organisations to Banki MlA Pravat Tripathy in this respect, the latter has intimated the Government for action but to no effect. Meanwhile, the locals have threatened for an agitation if the shop was not shifted soon.