Gurgaon: Residents vent ire over liquor store in DLF-3
Claiming that the liquor shop is situated close to housing societies, residents have urged the excise department not to renew its licence in March
Residents of DLF-3 have appealed to Gurgaon’s excise and taxation department to remove a liquor shop, which they claim is located in the vicinity of posh housing societies and draws miscreants and anti-social elements after sundown.
The liquor store in question is located on Moulsary Road, nearly 1300 metres from the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. Residents said that apart from an unwanted assembly of people who create a nuisance in public, several hawkers and street vendors have set up shop around the liquor store, disturbing the ambience of housing societies nearby and resulting in residents, especially women and the elderly, to fear for their security while passing through.
RP Bajaj, president, residents’ welfare association (RWA), DLF-3, said, “A year ago, a man was murdered on the spot (where the liquor store stands) after two groups got into an argument over drinks and came to blows. The residents have been asking for this liquor store to be relocated since then. The licence of this liquor store will come up for renewal in March and we have appealed to the excise and taxation department not to renew the licence. However, despite our repeated requests to have it relocated, the shop continues to operate.”
As per the terms laid down by the excise department for a liquor store to obtain operating licence, it cannot be located in an area deemed a greenbelt, on the pavement or near schools, temples and other religious sites or in the vicinity of residential complexes.
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Joginder Sharma, a resident of DLF-3, said, “We have no clue why the excise department issued a licence to a liquor store in the vicinity of housing societies despite our repeated protests. We are still reminded of the murder that took place here a year ago and live in fear of an untoward incident. We have yet again taken up the issue with the excise department officials and have urged them not to renew the licence of this liquor store.”
Snehlata Yadav, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, said, “We have not received complaints from anyone in this regard. Should we receive a complaint from residents, we will verify their claim and take necessary action.”
“I can name many liquor shops in the city that are located near residential areas and near religious sites. They are a cause of concern for residents,” KS Rathi, an RWA member, said.