Protests Ignite Over Liquor Outlet Location on Salem's Yercaud Main Road

Proximity to Educational Institutions and Risks to Residents

In Salem city, residents of Gorimedu are calling for the urgent relocation of a Tasmac liquor outlet operating on Yercaud Main Road. The shop sits within 500 meters of the Government Women’s Arts College and several religious sites. Locals report that the presence of the outlet creates an unsafe environment for female students and pedestrians, particularly during evening hours when crowds gather.

Traffic Congestion and Public Nuisance

The operational habits of the shop have led to systemic issues for the neighborhood. P. Gowtham, a local resident, noted that customers frequently obstruct the motorable portions of Yercaud Main Road by parking their vehicles haphazardly. Issues cited by the community include:

• Extended queues for liquor purchases that block public movement during weekends.
• Empty glass bottles discarded on public roads after consumption.
• Heightened volatility, punctuated by a recent incident where miscreants threw a molotov cocktail at the premises.

Conflict with Promised Government Policy

The continued operation of this specific outlet appears to contradict previous administrative pledges. S. Nandhini, a Gorimedu resident, pointed to an announcement by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay regarding the closure of 717 Tasmac shops located within 500 meters of bus terminals, educational centers, and places of worship. Despite meeting these criteria for removal, the Gorimedu shop remains open. While residents argue that closing the shop is necessary for the protection of women and students, Tasmac officials have only stated they would look into the matter.

Source: The Hindu — Home