Protests are mounting up in Astarang area against a proposal of the State Excise Department to open five liquor shops in Puri district.
Women activists, youths, social workers, lawyers and intelligentsia of Puri district are up against the move which they apprehended would not only boost consumption of liquor in the area but also give rise to anti-social activities.
This is pertinent to mention here that there are two colleges nearby along with a boy’s high school and a girl’s high school at stone throw distance from the proposed liquor bazaar. Senior citizens have decried the move by the district administration to forcefully go ahead with the plan and cautioned the administration of dire consequences.
“All the protest rallies and petitions of the general public have fallen in deaf ear of the Government, who is interested in revenue augmentation without concern for public health and dignity of our mothers and sisters,” lamented a noted educationist of the area.
The five proposed on-shops within a distance of one km is nothing but a cruel mockery to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. One of the colleges in close proximity of which the liquor shops are going to be set up, is named after Gandhi, said a student leader.