Ruling AINRC MLA P.M.L. Kalyanasundaram on Thursday locked horns with Chief Minister N. Rangasamy in the Legislative Assembly over relocation of liquor shops on National Highways and the East Coast Road.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Mr. Kalyanasundaram sought the clarification of the Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on what procedural formalities the Department of Excise was adopting while sanctioning licenses to liquor shops coming up on National Highways and the East Coast Road. He said that there was a direction from the Supreme Court that liquor shops should be located at least 500 metres from a national highway.
He wanted to know why the rule had not been adhered to by the Excise Department.
Replying to the Member, the Chief Minister said that efforts would be taken by the Excise Department authorities to relocate liquor shops that were causing hardship to the locals in consultation with officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
When the MLA persisted in his appeal on relocation of the liquor shops, Mr. Rangasamy said that Excise was a major source of Revenue to the Government and the MLA must have realised this.
He appealed to Kalyanasundaram to take care of the people in his Kalapet constituency as there have been several complaints of contamination of drinking water sources by chemical industries.
