Post News Network
Angul, March 15: With the agitation over shifting of a liquor shop at Namatara in Kendrapara district yet to die down, another liquor shop near a high school on outskirts here is brewing a similar kind of storm in the district.
Residents in Kurudul village on the town outskirts are up in arms against an IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) off shop in the region and have warned of an agitation if the liquor shop is not closed down or shifted elsewhere in the interest of the villagers.
They alleged that they have thrice lodged their complaints with the collector in this regard, but to no avail. They further alleged that the administrative officials are going soft on their demand as the shop is owned by an influential person in the area. The liquor shop has led to intense resentment among villagers as they were learnt to be preparing for a major showdown on the issue.
Their anger stems from the fact that it lies just 200 metres from the Gram Panchayat High School as well as Orissa Brigade School, St Xavier’s School, Amarbani Public School, while a Shiva temple and the Biju Patnaik Mini Stadium are at equal distance from the liquor shop. This apart, a residential apartment lying in close proximity to the shop makes their anger understandable.
The residents apprehend that the existence of the shop might lead to a law and order situation in future as women members of 50 families living in the apartment always stand the risk of being at the receiving end of lewd comments from boozers.
While law debars opening of liquor shops within 500 metres of educational institutions and places of worship, the excise department has permitted opening of the shop in clear breach of the rules.
When contacted, excise superintendent Pradipta Ranjan Pattnaik said a status report addressed to the excise commissioner on the existence of schools and a place of worship near the liquor shop was submitted
to the collector, but the commissioner allowed its opening as it was an
off shop.
