Hesaraghatta residents oppose move to open liquor store

Residents of Hesaraghatta village on Sunday staged a protest against the move by the Mysore Sales International Limited to set up a liquor outlet there.

They prevented the entry of the truck carrying liquor bottles to the village.

They said MSIL planned to open an outlet on Bilijale village road at Hesaraghatta. The Excise department officials visited the village for inspection, but did not submit a proper report. They submitted a wrong report, which enabled MSIL to go ahead with its plan.

There are two Anganwadi centres, a government school, a maternity hospital, a private school and a farmers’ centre within a radius of 150 metres from the place identified for the liquor outlet.

Hesaraghatta Gram Panchayat president Krishnaiah said, “The liquor outlet is being opened without obtaining the permission of the Gram Panchayat.” GP president Vasanthalakshmi said a large number of women from the village worked in garment factories and many middle-class families reside there. Considering these factors, the liquor outlet should not be opened there, she said.