The state government decision to carry out sale of liquor on its own and through the retail shops of Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL) from May 1 has spelled doom for the residents of posh residential colony of Dhanbad as one of retail shop has been allotted in Shakti Society in Joraphatak road adjacent to two different temples, school and nursing homes.

Perturbed over the situation over 150 residents of the locality today met the Dhanbad MP, PN Singh; Excise Commissioner, Uma Shankar Singh and later also submitted a memorandum to the Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner, Sandeep Singh demanding their intervention to shift the newly allotted shops from the area.

Talking to The Telegraph Online today outside the district collectorate, Gaurav Baweja, a trader who is also the resident of the Shakti society said “Altogether 90 flats are situated in the seven storey society building situated in the heart of the town at Joraphatak road and we were stunned to know yesterday about the allotment of one of liquor shop in basement of market situated in our society”

“Concerned the safety of the residents of the locality and other law and order situation which may develop in the wake of opening of liquor shop we met the Dhanbad MP, PN Singh raising the issue who assured to take up the matter with the higher authorities and even held telephonic talks with the excise commissioner of the Dhanbad apprising him about our concerns and the commissioner in turn promised to look into the issue” elaborated Baweja.

“We also met the excise commissioner on our own who reiterated the promise to intervene into the issue as promised to the MP, PN Singh”further said Baweja

Echoing sentiments, Manju Somani, a women resident of Shakti Society who also participated in the protest carried out today said “we wonder that how can a liquor shop be allotted at place where a Jain temple and Shiva temple are situated adjacent while the famous Shakti Mandir temple is only 30 meters away ” and added that a school and private nursing home are also situated a few yards away from the shop.

Ravi Mittal, another protestor of Shakti Society who also made part of the delegation which met the senior officials of district administration and Dhanbad MP, PN Singh today on the other hand said “ the illegal assembly of people is a common feature in the vicinity of the liquor shops and the peace of the locality is likely to disturbed due to operation of shop, so we are opposing the launching of retail liquor outlet in our locality”