Upping the ante against the alleged move to set up liquor outlets in the midst of residential localities along the Gollagatta road in Bhadrachalam, the aggrieved denizens of the temple town embarked on a campaign vociferously opposing the proposal.
The Prohibition and Excise Department had allotted seven retail liquor shops through draw of lots in the temple town last month.
Some of the liquor traders reportedly mooted setting up of the liquor shops allotted to them in semi-commercial areas along the thoroughfare leading to Gollagatta.
The move evoked strong protests from the residents of Sitaramanagar, Venkateshwara Colony, and its surrounding localities.
Banner put up
The aggrieved denizens put up a banner on the Gollagatta road in protest against the move.
A delegation of the local residents submitted a memorandum to the authorities seeking withdrawal of the proposal to safeguard public health and safety.
They strongly objected to the proposal citing location of several educational institutions and the head office of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) being on the Gollagatta road.
With the no liquor zone ban in force within the 500 metres of the highways, the liquor traders may have chosen the semi-commercial area along the Gollagatta thoroughfare for setting up the liquor outlets, said sources in the Excise Department.
Sale of liquor in Bhadrachalam should be banned to protect the sanctity of the famous pilgrim centre, said Busireddy Shankar Reddy, president, Antharjaatheeya Gandhi Patham, a temple-town-based social organisation leading the campaign against the new shops.