Tamil Nadu has ordered 19 TASMAC liquor shops in Nilgiris district to close at 8 pm instead of 10 pm after increased night-time movement of wild animals, including elephants and leopards, in parts of the district.
The instruction was issued by TASMAC Managing Director Nandakumar, according to a report by Dinamalar. The affected shops are located across three taluks: seven in Gudalur, eight in Pandalur and four in Kundah, taking the total number of outlets covered by the order to 19.
TASMAC shops across Tamil Nadu generally operate from noon to 10 pm every day. The change in Nilgiris brings the closing time for the identified outlets forward by two hours. The report did not specify how long the revised operating hours will remain in force or whether the order applies to other liquor shops in the district.
The administrative action follows reports of increased movement of wildlife at night in areas including Gudalur. Elephants, leopards and other wild animals have been observed moving through or near inhabited areas, creating a safety concern for people travelling after dark. The order links the reduced operating hours specifically to this night-time wildlife movement.
The distribution of the affected shops across Gudalur, Pandalur and Kundah indicates that the decision covers multiple parts of Nilgiris district rather than a single outlet or locality. However, the source report does not provide details about individual shop locations, the number of incidents recorded, or whether any injuries, property damage or disruption to public movement preceded the order.
TASMAC is the Tamil Nadu government’s liquor retailing network, and its shop timings are determined through administrative orders. In this case, the managing director’s instruction changes the operating schedule for the selected outlets while leaving the general statewide timing of noon to 10 pm unchanged, based on the information available in the report.
For residents in the affected taluks, the immediate operational change is that purchases at the 19 shops will no longer be available after 8 pm. The order also reduces the period during which customers and shop staff would be present around the outlets during hours when wildlife movement has been reported. The report does not state whether any alternative arrangements have been announced for workers or customers.
The order places the response within the wider administrative challenge of managing human activity in areas where settlements and wildlife movement overlap. It is a targeted timing measure rather than an announcement of permanent closure, relocation or a change in the number of TASMAC outlets. Further details on the duration of the restriction and any subsequent review were not provided in the source report.
