In the wake of the Supreme Court’s direction banning sale of liquor within 500 metre from the National and State Highways from April 1, attempts made by some retailers to shift their wine shops to residential and posh areas has triggered strong resentments among locals and worried the district administration.
According to information, a wine shop run by an influential person at the Old Bus stand here is planned to be relocated in the New Barracks Street (road opposite to Brahmapur Stadium), which is hardly 50 metres away from the existing place and unlikely to fulfill the SC norm.
locals have expressed strong resentments over relocation of the wine shop in their area. They alleged that the liquor shop is going to be relocated in the knowledge of local authorities. Significantly, former Minister Surja Narayan Patro and former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda’s residences and the Ganjam District BJP office are located in Barracks Streets.
“Sale of liquor will certainly convert the VIP zone into a place of wicked elements,” said a local person. He said residents would soon submit a memorandum to the district Collector requesting him to stop relocation of the shop. If the demands are not met, the locals would take to the street, he threatened.
Since the nearby Gandhinagar Square has already become a center of antisocial elements during dark, the proposed relocation would aggravate the situation and break harmony, he apprehended.
Meanwhile, villagers of Mandiapalli under Rangailunda block had agitated against such a move two days back. The owner of a wine shop was forced to banish his proposal of relocation, sources said.
“We would not allow opening of wine shops in our area. We warned the local administration and Excise Department to either close down the wine shop or face strong protests,” said a social worker.