Women on warpath over new bar

Vijayawada: Opposing attempts to set up new bar under new liquor policy that came into effect from Saturday, residents, especially women of New Autonagar here virtually waged a war against administration that was helping the owner to start the bar in residential area.

The women of the locality united without political affiliations and squatted infront of the place where opening of bar was proposed. In fact, the women obstructed the arrangements to open the shop from Friday evening.

They continued their agitation on Saturday. The women, who gathered in large numbers, raised slogans against the officials who allegedly helped the owner of the newly sanctioned liquor outlet. The women said they would not rest until the proposal of bar was scrapped by the officials.

The women squatted at the bar site and not allowing others to make arrangements to open the bar. Following the tense situation prevailed in the area, the authorities deployed police in large numbers.

Meanwhile, liquor shops and bars located below 500 metres distance from national and state highways have been closed in the city and other parts of Krishna district on Saturday in view of the Apex Court directive. Now the liquor syndicate, who got licences to run the liquor shops and bars, are searching for shops in other areas.

The government has sanctioned permission to run 146 bars in Krishna district. As per the new excise policy, the government has sanctioned one liquor shop for 30,000 population. The government has received applications to sanction licence for 158 bars in the district. The liquor syndicate is vigorously trying to open the shops and bars as per the norms.

As per the guidelines, the bars should not be located at places in 100 metres radious of places of worship and educational institutions.