DRC: No liquor shops near religious places

HYDERABAD: Cutting across party lines MPs, MLAs and MLCs including from the ruling party have come down heavily on the Excise department for allowing wine shops and clubs run near educational institutions and places of worship and creating public nuisance. The elected representatives demanded scrapping of liquor licences violating government rules.Even major industries and in-charge minister of Hyderabad district J Geeta Reddy admitted that drunkards have been creating public nuisance near the wine shops which have become open bars.‘’We will direct the officials concerned to take appropriate action against the wine shops violating the norms,’’ she assured.The Hyderabad District Review Committee meeting being held after a gap of more than six months started on a stormy note with elected representatives demanding discussion and action taken report against the liquor shops in the twin cities. Even senior police officials expressed inability in taking action against the wine shops violating rules and regulations.Additional commissioner of police (Law and Order) Amit Garg said that the police have written letters to the commissioner Prohibition and Excise for closure of 37 wine shops located near religious places and educational institutions and 75 shops against whom cases have been booked regularly but there was no response from the Excise department. ‘’We will follow it up and see that action is initiated against the violators’’ he added.