Social worker and president of Anchalika Nagarika Surakshya O Adhikar Manch and president of Sri Sri langaleswar Krushak Sangh Brundaban Behera has threatened to move court unless the district administration shifted a country liquor shop and manufacturing unit located near Ranipada UP School and a village temple under ward 1 of the Polasara NAC.
Notably, the country liquor shop and manufacturing unit is run by a powerful liquor mafia of the locality and is releasing its waste and polluted water through a drain to the nearby Dhanei river that contaminates the river water, the only source of drinking water for the hundreds of inhabitants. Due to contamination of water, more than 10,000 people are affected.
The consumption of the contaminated water is causing serious health hazards also. Besides, the very manufacturing and sale of liquor at the entry point of the village has tremendously influenced and degraded the life style, conduct and the behaviour of the local youths besides affecting peace and harmony in the village, Behera alleged.
Expressing serious concern on the State Government’s priority and encouragement to promote liquor in the State, simply to generate revenue at the cost of the future of students, local youths, as well as public peace and tranquility, Behera alleged that the villagers have been representing to the District Collector and the Public Health authorities for shifting of the liquor Bhatti to some far off and remote locations for about a decade, but unfortunately, their demand remains unheeded so far.
When the villagers have been demanding shifting the ‘liquor Bhatti’ since 2007, why the successive district Collectors of Ganjam remained non-actorsIJ Behera questioned, demanding an impartial probe of the entire matter.
Another villager who did not wish to be identified alleged that the local representatives and the district administration prefer to remain silent apprehending threat to their lives. Surprisingly, there appears to be a nexus between the liquor Bhatti owner and the district administration including public health authorities, district excise officials and the local police.