Chandrapur: The Jan Vikas Sena (JVS) has trained its guns on the state excise department’s go-ahead to country liquor, beer shops in residential areas and near religious places and educational institutions.
JVS president Pradeep Deshmukh alias Pappu alleged that nearly all newly-allowed liquor and beer shops in the city were illegal and permitted through corrupt means.
Desmukh, who is a corporator from Wadgaon ward, has launched an agitation against the new country liquor shops near Jagannath Baba Math (monastery) on Datala Road and near Datta Mandir on Nagpur Road. The liquor shops on Datala Road and Nagpur Road in Datta Nagar are close to religious places and also in close proximity of educational institutes.
In fact, the liquor shop in Datta Nagar has been permitted adjacent to a paediatric hospital, Deshmukh said.
“The excise department has a regulation of allowing liquor and beer shops at 50 metre distance from religious places and educational institutions. However, the law and order situation arising from gathering of devotees at these places, and presence and movement of students near liquor shops has been largely overlooked,” he said.
Deshmukh added that the liquor shop near Old Shrikrishna Talkies in KD Complex has been allowed despite presence of Nag temple and an education institute in close vicinity. Another beer and liquor shop has been permitted close to Jain Temple in Sarafa line, the politician said.
“Both these locations are crowded with women and children, but excise and police departments have completely overlooked the problem they face from drunkards. The police department has not taken consent of the nearby residents in any of the cases while giving NOC to these shops,” he alleged.
Deshmukh has announced that JVS will stage protests before the state excise office to oppose the permission given to these liquor shops on Wednesday.
The above news was originally posted on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
