Many villages in erstwhile Warangal launch fight against liquor belt shops
Several villages in the erstwhile Warangal district are intensifying efforts to eliminate illegal liquor belt shops through gram panchayat resolutions. Inavolu has joined the campaign, imposing fines and other penalties on those found operating unauthorised liquor outlets despite the ban
Warangal: Under the Telangana Excise Act, running ‘belt shops’ (unauthorised liquor outlets) is illegal, but officials of the Excise Department seldom act against such shops.
The presence of belt shops, especially in rural areas, has become a cause for concern, as villagers complain of increasing liquor addiction among the younger generation as well as elders, resulting in financial hardships and domestic conflicts within families.
Liquor is available at any time, and sales continue unabated even on ‘dry days’ such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Due to the alleged indifference of police and excise officials, the belt shops are flourishing and functioning like bars.
According to sources, there are around 1,683 villages in the undivided Warangal district, and in each village, five to six ‘belt shops’ are being operated as extensions of licensed liquor shops. Some villages have more than 20 belt shops where alcohol is sold round the clock.
In many villages, though locals submit representations to district Collectors and other officials urging them to take action against those involved in the illegal sale of liquor, such petitions are often ignored.
As a result, residents and women’s groups in several villages in the erstwhile Warangal district decided to act and started opposing belt shops. Model villages such as Gangadevipalli and Mariyapuram in Warangal, Bheemadevarapally and Kamalapur in Hanamkonda, Nashkal in Jangaon, and over half a dozen other villages have passed unanimous resolutions banning belt shops.
Of late, Inavolu village in Warangal, famous for its historic Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, has joined the fight against belt shops. The Sarpanches’ Forum mandal president, Gaddam Raghuvamsi, called for transforming the village into a ‘belt shop-free’ village.
Speaking to Telangana Today, he said the gram panchayat resolution to shut down belt shops came into effect on July 15. Operating belt shops in violation of the resolution would attract a fine of Rs 10,000 and the withholding of welfare scheme benefits, he said.
It may be noted that in Nashkal village, power supply was disconnected to the houses of six persons who sold liquor in violation of the gram panchayat resolution. Sarpanch Shataboina Raju said the ban on belt shops would continue to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the village.
