Chennai: Two wine shops located on the main road of Shivashakthi Nagar in Annanur has been the cause of chaos in the residential area for the past 18 months.
The Tasmac outlets lying parallel to the Annanur railway station have been the reason for various accidents and criminal offences in the area.
A few months ago, residents of the locality protested against a Tasmac outlet that was opened after vacating the medical shop on the main road. The protesters were arrested and two public interest litigations were filed in order to close the wine shop.
Residents are concerned about safety after a rise in criminal activities in the locality as a number of chain and phone-snatching incidents have taken place lately.
Kavitha Thirumugam, an advocate and resident of the Shivashakthi Nagar says, “there are a few colleges and schools in and around the area. We have seen school students buying alcohol from this wine shop, which will not only spoil the health, but also the productivity of the younger generation.”
Residents allege that the wine shops do not comply with the rules and regulations for the sale of liquor, as the shops are kept open even at 4 am and people buy alcohol early in the morning too.
“It is not right to have three wine shops in a row, especially in a residential area," Kavitha asks.
Residents are scared to let their children go out and women face difficulty to get back home after office hours, as the mob of tipplers poses a risk to their safety. “The tipplers knock on the doors of the houses in the locality at night. They take away the vessels and other things kept near the gate and sell them,” says Durga Devi, a resident of the locality.
Tasmac Employers Union official denied the claims on not complying with the rules, stating that the shops are 100 meters away as per the regulations.
“If the shops are a disturbance for residents, a separate space should be allocated as per the convenience. However, the behaviour of tipplers is beyond our control,” said an official.
