PONDA: Women in Veling Priol Cuncoliem are protesting issue of new licences issued to liquor shops despite their prior objections. They had served a 15-day ultimatum on the panchayat to revoke the licences or face an agitation similar to the one staged by Surla locals.
“Women are the most affected due to addiction of their sons and husbands. Henceforth, we will tolerate neither legal nor illegal liquor shop in our area where liquor is flowing without a check,” said Karishma Naik.
Besides local youth getting addicted to alcohol, their wards are reportedly facing nuisance of drugs at Mangueshi wherein school students get addicted to narcotics. The women have demanded that the authorities concerned take immediate action to stop the drugs trade.
Women in Veling Priol Councoliem are irked with the former Panchayat secretary for issuing licence to wholesale and retail liquor shop at Apewal Priol defying the gram sabha and panchayat resolutions.
Speaking on behalf of local women, Karishma said, “there are around 44 bars in the area and the panchayat continues to issue licences despite several resolutions to stop issuing permission to set up liquor shops.”
“Don’t force us to repeat a Surla type of agitation at Sattari Taluka. We are warning the sarpanch, BDO, Excise and other authorities that we will launch an agitation and will not hesitate to sit on an indefinite hunger strike in front of Veling Priol Cuncoliem Panchayat,” Karishma warned.
Sarpanch of Veling Priol Cuncoliem Mangaldas Gaude confirmed that there are 44 liquor shops in panchayat area. He said that panchayat body has not given any NOC to more liquor or whole sale shops. “Based upon the secretary’s report at the BDO, the Excise Department has issued licences. If the locals submit a fresh objection then the panchayat body will surely take a decision on this issue. We are also not in favour of issuing more licences,” he added.
