Massive Protests Against Proposed Bar in Residential Locality in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Residents of Relli veedhi, Kodi Pandalu street, Denkada street and Jalari peta have been urging the district collector to stop the opening of a bar and restaurant in their area. GVMC’s wards 30,36 and 37 have a large population of those belonging to weaker sections.

Other concerns are that the area’s neighbourhood houses the collectorate, K.G.H. Hospital, A.V.N College and an elementary school. Right opposite BR Ambedkar kalyana mandap, a local businessman is to set up a bar and restaurant, which is being condemned by the residents.

“One town police records say that there are 60 rowdy sheeters and of them 20 belong to our area. Opening a bar here means neglecting the safety of women,” a resident of Jalari Peta Nallamma, said.

“The shop’s market price is '60 lakh but Jerry Potula Prasad bought it for Rs one crore 30 lakh,” said Bangaru Simhachalam, cashier at Relli Kula Sankshema Sangham.

In 2015, there were a lot of protests against a wine shop and the anti-social activities around it. During the Hudhud cyclone residents, when the protests intensified, the wine shop was closed.

Understanding the sensitivity of the situation, the then higher authorities issued orders cancelling permission for the wine shop. Again, on August 26,  2022, an attempt was made to open a bar and restaurant but the GVMC stopped it.

Simhachalam said, “Jerry Potula Prasad is trying to set up a bar and the ward 37 corporator Chinna Janaki Ram is standing by him. Our women attacked him.”

He also said that there were many unofficial belt shops in the area.

"The staff working in government liquor shops targeted some of our people and supplied them alcohol for selling them locally. Potula Prasad was behind this," said Simhachalam.