Tamil Nadu TASMAC shops located near homes and other sensitive public areas may be relocated after complaints from residents, with the state-run liquor retailer identifying 200 outlets for possible shifting. TASMAC district managers are currently assessing the shops and searching for alternative locations, according to a TASMAC official quoted by Dinamalar.
The proposed action follows complaints that some liquor shops close to residential areas and bus stands continued to operate even after other outlets were shut. Residents reportedly told the government and TASMAC that the location of these shops could create public inconvenience and increase the possibility of law-and-order problems.
The development comes after 717 liquor shops located within 500 metres of educational institutions, places of worship and bus stands were closed after the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government was formed, according to the report. The closures addressed outlets falling within the specified distance of those institutions and public facilities.
However, the complaints cited by residents concern other shops that were not covered by those closures. The report says several outlets near houses and bus stands remained open, prompting people to submit complaints to the government and TASMAC. The new review is therefore focused on identifying shops that continue to cause problems because of their location or the activity around them.
A TASMAC official said many shops were operating in premises owned by liquor bar licence holders. The official said each shop would be inspected after a complaint was received, and that relocation would be considered if the inspection confirmed that the outlet was creating a problem. The official did not indicate that all 200 shops had already been ordered to move.
TASMAC district managers are taking stock of the outlets based on the complaints received. New sites are being identified for the 200 shops proposed for relocation, but the report does not specify the locations of the affected outlets, the proposed replacement sites, a relocation schedule or the criteria that will determine the final decision for each shop.
The next step is the completion of the district-level assessment and inspections. Relocation decisions will be taken after TASMAC confirms that individual shops are causing problems, according to the official statement cited in the report.
