Protest against liquor shops in MTR villages

OOTY: As 29 State-run Tasmac liquor outlets were closed in Nilgiris after Madras High court's intervention on Friday, voices began to emanate to permanently close liquor outlets in jungle villages around Mudumalai tiger reserve (MTR).

It may be recalled that the Madras High Court on Friday ordered immediate closure of Tasmac shops which were functioning in unauthorized buildings.  In sequel to this order, 29 Tasmac shops across the Nilgiris were closed on Friday, which brought to the fore that all these shops, including two in the Masinagudi area which is a village amidst the woods of  Mudumalai Tiger Reserve(MTR).Manjai V.Mohan, president of the Badagu Desa Party(BDP), a local political outfit here, said that the closure of 29 Tasmac shops, which hitherto was functioning in unauthorized buildings in Nilgiris all these years, showcased even the district administration of Nilgiris, which is a respondent to a case pertaining to unauthorized buildings in Nilgiris, too turned its eye off these illegal activity. Stating that vigilance enquiry and action  must be initiated against the concerned officials in Excise department  who permitted to run Tasmac outlets in the unauthorized buildings, Mr. Mohan said that the district administration in Nilgiris should not give its nod for re-opening of any Tasmac shop in jungle villages, especially, in Masinagudi limits in the MTR woods.