Date:07/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060716440500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

TASMAC outlet fuels spirited protest

Staff Reporter

It was opened at Kolathur three days ago

A place of worship and a school were located nearby Association has made a representation to officials

CHENNAI : An outlet of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), opened three days ago in a residential area at Kolathur, has evoked protests from the residents.

Members of the Chennai Kolathur Residents Welfare Association charged that the liquor shop on South Mada Street in Kolathur was located in a residential area. A place of worship and a school were also located nearby. The outlet was opened despite objections from the residents.

Association president P. V. Srinivasa Rao said the opening of the TASMAC outlet had resulted in inconvenience to the public, especially women visiting the fair price (ration) shop situated opposite.

However, the outlet was not attracting many customers because of the continued protests from the residents.

The association's legal adviser, P. S. Muralidhar Rao, said that according to the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in shops and bars) Rules 2003, liquor shops within municipal limits must be located 50 metres away from educational institutions and places of worship.

He said that apart from causing an inconvenience to students and devotees, the shop could also pose problems to road-users with haphazard parking of vehicles by the customers.

This would further increase the traffic congestion on the narrow road.

He pointed out that another liquor shop was located just a few metres away on Red Hills Road and hence, closure of this shop would not affect the customers.

The association has submitted a representation to the TASMAC officials and the Chennai Collectorate.

When contacted, a senior TASMAC official said the issue would be looked into immediately