People raise voice against location of liquor vend

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 26

Location of a new liquor vend near Suki Jori on the Dharampur-Sanawar Road has become a point of contention between the locals and the Excise and Taxation Department as the former are opposing it tooth and nail.

Since the vend is located near a natural source of water which is frequented by women villagers had raised a banner of protest against it. A number of students and employed people often take this road and walk home in the evenings.

Opening of a vend on this road will make the road unsafe for commuting in the evenings, said Sanjay Kumar, Up Pradhan, Gulahri Panchayat. The area falls under the Thakurdwara ward of his panchayat.

An agitation by the locals was also witnessed against this vend where the villagers said they would meet the Deputy Commissioner and request for its removal.

This was among those closed vends which was originally located at Dharampur on the National highway-22 but was later closed following apex court directions. The vend was, however, shifted to this main district road following the new policy of the Excise and Taxation Department which has given the contractors the liberty to shift the closed vends to suitable locations.

Though it was away from the national highway it was located on a busy road forcing villagers to oppose it.

Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner DC Negi, when quizzed, said they could review the location and the vend could be shifted to an appropriate place if it posed problems to the people.

Field officials who are supposed to inspect such sites before approving them have obviously considered only the revenue aspect and failed to see its social implications.

Since a number of tourists often use this road to enjoy drinks owing to its secluded location, the presence of a vend was sure to vitiate the atmosphere.