The opening of a new TASMAC shop last week at 1st Avenue, Besant Nagar has sent shockwaves in the vicinity.
“The news of the closure of 500 TASMAC shops a couple of months back, was welcomed with jubilance among many residents, but we never thought that it would spell doom for some residents because TASMAC would open a new store here,” said Karmegham, a resident of 1st Avenue, Sastri Nagar.
The shop flaunts all the rules laid out by the The Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (In Shops And Bars) Rules, 2003. Rule 8 of the Act specifies the location criteria of the shops and it says:
No shop shall be established in Municipal Corporations and Municipalities within a distance of 50 metres and in other areas 100 metres from any place of worship or educational institutions; Provided that the distance restriction shall not apply in areas designated as ‘Commercial’ or ‘Industrial’ by the Development or Town Planning authorities; Provided also that if any place of worship, educational institution comes into existence subsequent to the establishment of the shop, the provisions of this rule shall not apply.
In this particular case, 1st Avenue is not an industrial location and has residences around as well. Also the shop is located right behind the Corporation Primary Health Centre and within a 100 m of Besant LVR School and Sridevi Ellaiamman temple. All these institutes predate the existence of the TASMAC.
“The establishment of a TASMAC liquor shop in close proximity to schools and residential areas is causing significant problems for school children and senior citizens. This liquor shop not only attracts anti-social elements but also creates an environment that is detrimental to the psychological and emotional well-being of our community members. It is distressing to witness young students and elderly individuals having to face the sight of intoxicated individuals in public places, compromising their security and peace of mind. The relocation or closure of the TASMAC liquor shop would go a long way in ensuring the safety and tranquillity of the Adyar community, especially for vulnerable groups like school children and senior citizens,” said Chaitali Shroff, Co-founder – Holistic Education and Adaptive Learning Foundation, from 1st Avenue, Besant Nagar.
Already one finds people who have passed out in the vicinity and as days go, the numbers will only increase. Residents also fear that the road, being a link to Elliot’s beach, would no longer be safe for pedestrians or school children.
T.D.Babu, Co-founder of civic body Spark speaks out, “Besant Nagar, once a peaceful residential area developed by TNHB with proper infrastructure surrounded by natural spaces, is in trouble for past few years due to many activities such as car-free Sundays choking the internal roads with vehicles; Marathons that provides a huge shock to the residents in the early mornings on weekends with high decibels of sound and leftover trash on the roads; encroachments putting pedestrians and motorists in great discomforts. Local residents hesitate to step out to the beach for relaxation as it has been converted into a food court and the beach is no longer a place for admiring nature. Now in this mix is the TASMAC which is operating without any board, very close to a medical facility, educational institute, place of worship, market and ration shop, violating the norms. It has made the local residents’ life miserable and unsafe. Hope the District Collector closes this outlet and restores peace to the residents here.”
What ideals are being set here, one wonders.
Life has become Hell for residents of Besant Nagar with drunken brawls due to newly opened tasmac shop, anti social activities, drug peddlers, beggars menace occupying footpath for sleeping, urinating, defecation , vendor encroachments, increasing thefts
As quoted by Mr Babu, Spark Foundation , Besant Nagar. Pls do not choke Besant Nagar with activities like Marathon, Car free Sundays etc to add to long list of civic issues. Please take feedback of organisations like Spark Foundation to solve real problems of Besant Nagar
Request concerned authorities to have daily police patrols, weekly surprise visits by higher officials to see the various public nuisance themselves and act immediately
Public cannot cross that place (Besant Nagar new TASMAC) specially ladies and students. it is direct opposite to fish market and near to Indian bank,ATM center ,school and besant nagar bus terminal.Kindly government higher officials consider this matter and take action to shift this TASMAC to some other place. This is my kind request to TN Govt.