Bhopal: Residents Protest Liquor Shop Near Colony, Warn Of Mass Stir | File/ Representative Image
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The opening of a new liquor shop near Indus Garden Colony at Bawadia Kalan Square triggered massive protests on Thursday morning, with residents expressing outrage over its location near homes, a hospital and places of worship. The protest erupted when construction workers began clearing land and cutting trees to make space for the shop.
As news of the proposed liquor outlet spread, local residents, including women, youth and elderly, gathered at the site, demanding an immediate halt to the construction. Residents said that setting up a liquor shop just 50 meters away from a hospital and religious sites not only violates legal provisions but also threatens social harmony.
“This decision will disrupt the environment and create problems for commuters,” said Kusum Mishra, a local resident. She also said that the state government had earlier shut down liquor stores in religious towns, making this move contradictory. Echoing similar sentiments, GP Pal, a resident of Indus Colony Phase-1, slammed the decision.
“Opening a liquor shop at the very entrance of a residential colony is outright wrong and goes against the government’s own policies,” he said, adding that residents would submit a formal objection letter to the Bhopal collector and other authorities concerned.
The residents have warned of large-scale protests if the proposed location is not changed. They have urged the administration to intervene immediately and prevent the shop’s opening, stating that failure to do so will lead to intensified demonstrations in the coming days.
