As shutters down on one wine store, dozens more to spring up

Residents of Doddakunte and Cox Town finally managed to convince the authorities concerned to relocate a wine store in the area that has been causing them a lot of inconvenience. Sri Balaji Wine Store, situated at the entrance of Doddakunte, was in the eye of the storm recently, after residents raised numerous complaints about the store causing inconvenience, especially for women, senior citizens and children.

The residents had submitted petitions to various authorities, including former MLA, S Raghu, requesting him to direct the authorities concerned to ensure shifting of the wine store. On June 11, 2012, Raghu had written a letter to the then excise minister MP Renukacharya, requesting him to take measures to shift the wines store. The following day, Renukacharya directed the excise commissioner to ensure that the store was shifted, however, nothing happened for the past one year.

“We will continue our fight till the excise department authorities direct the wine store owner to shift the shop immediately. We want women, children and senior citizens to walk on the road without any hassles. The drunkards are creating nuisance during evenings and women find it difficult to wait for the BMTC buses as the wines store is situated right opposite to the bus stop. I am grateful to all the political parties for extending their support to our agitation,’’ said NS Ravi, president, Bharathinagar Residents’ Welfare Association.

C Murthy, president, Students’ Union Football Club, said the residents had no objections to the wine store for years until it started causing inconvenience to them. “Drunkards are creating a lot of problems. They urinate on the road and the stench is unbearable,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, excise department officials have assured the agitators that the authorities concerned have decided not to renew the licence of Sri Balaji Wines Store if its owner, Gopalaiah, fails to find a suitable place for shifting the store before the month end.