Chennai: Women protest against Tasmac shop in housing complex

Chennai: A month after the Supreme Court announced a ban on liquor sale on highways, widespread anti-liquor protests are intensifying in the city and its suburbs, due to the relocation of tasmac shops to residential localities. After Padur, Perumbakkam and Kundrathur, it’s the turn of Annanur residents to threaten and insist the government to shutter down a liquor shop relocated in a residential apartment at Siva Sakthi Nagar.

“The new liquor shop has come up within 40 metres of a Ram temple and a school. Despite making a plea to the Tiruvallur district collector and the managing director of Tasmac to shut its function, nothing fruitful has happened,” rued P.K. Damodaran, of Siva Sakthi Nagar Welfare Association. “How can the government permit such a violation?” questioned the retired government official.

“The placement of the tasmac outlet is a straight violation of Rule 8 (1) of Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (In Shops and Bars) Rules 2003, which does not permit a tasmac shop within 100 metres from any place of worship or educational institutions,” said. Madras High Court advocate N. Prakash, who also resides in the locality. “Alcohol has become an easy access to my husband. He now sleeps in the tasmac shop itself,” said a woman from the locality.

Women have also turned apprehensive to cross the locality during the nights, as they worry of facing lewd comments from the tipplers. “It is difficult for the women to use the road amidst the constant stares of the tipplers. As the shop is located close to Annanur railway station, commuters are facing a huge inconvenience,” said R. Rajendran from the association. Tiruvallur collector E. Sundaravalli, assured Deccan Chronicle, to take action after conducting an inquiry.