People fume at liquor shops near homes

HYDERABAD: Residents in several areas across the city are up in arms over the opening of new liquor shops in residential localities, especially for the societal damage they are causing.

After getting government nod for opening new liquor shops, many outlets have sprung up in busy residential areas. The locals have to also bear nuisances like overcrowding, unhygienic conditions in the surroundings and haphazard parking. Many of them have been staging protests demanding that the shops be shifted elsewhere. Lakshmamma, a resident of Saidabad, complained that a new liquor shop was causing myriad problems in the area where she lives. “We have been protesting against this shop for the last five days,” she said.

What is irking the residents more is that several such shops have come up in the vicinity of educational institutions and religious places. Nagalakshmi, secretary of an apartment welfare association at Dhobighat crossroads, said that local women held a rasta roko against the outlet.

“There are two schools within a distance of 100 metres from the wine shop apart from a temple,” she added, stating that they would seek legal recourse if the situation persists. Authorities, however, claim that the blueprints submitted by wine shop licensees are thoroughly scrutinised and verified as per rules.

“There were instances when the licensees were booked for violations. If there are any concerns after the shops are set up, then we will definitely take necessary action,” said K. Naveen Kumar, assistant prohibition and excise superintendent, Dhoolpet.

Residents of an apartment near Gandhi hospital staged a protest against the opening of a new liquor shop on the ground floor of their building.