Nuapada: Residents of four panchayats under Sadar block in Nuapada district today staged agitation at Patora square in the district demanding closure of a country liquor manufacturing unit. The protesters blocked Dharambandha-Nuapada road for hours causing serious inconvenience for the commuters.
Around hundred men and women from Dharamabandha, Bharuamunda, Chulabhati and Khutbanbhera gram panchayats joined together for the anti-liquor protest. They alleged that their livelihood has been greatly affected due to the local liquor factory.
"Even school going children have also become addicted. The liquor unit is creating disturbance in many families of our areas. We have drawn attention of administration and Excise Department many times, but they all are acting mute spectators," Omm Prakash Kallar, Dharambandha sarpanch said.
"We will take to the streets and intensify the agitation until our demand is met," he added.
The protesters also submitted a memorandum to district Collector in this connection.
Excise officials said they have no power to close the unit. "We will take forward the matter to higher authorities. The government can only decide on closure," Excise inspector Subarna Naik said.