KHAMMAM:Even as the State government is planning to develop Bhadrachalam as the most sought after pilgrim-tourist centre in Telangana, the town is becoming a hub for sale of ID liquor and ganja, due to the negligence of the officials concerned.
Though at some places near the Kalyanamandapam such as Silpinagar, Kambalapadu and Seetanilyam, trade of illegal and harmful substances is rampant, neither the police nor the excise officials are taking any action.
The consumers of ID liquor and ganja are creating nuisance on the streets and causing inconvenience to pilgrims, especially to the ones coming from faraway places.
Not only the places near the temple, but also other places such as the Revenue Colony, Market Centre, Gollagatta road and Cherla road are turning into centres for sale of ID liquor. Hundreds of daily labourers and students are getting addicted to the menace.
A person who consumes ganja said the narcotic is being sold in powder form at many places. “Five grams of ganja is available for Rs 30 to Rs 50, at some places in the town,” he said.
S Narasayya, a rickshaw puller, said: “We do hardwork from morning to evening and we need some relaxation. Since we can not afford costly liquor, we are go for the ID liquor.”
N Mallikarjuna Rao, a business man, said sale of ID liquor and ganja is rampant in the surrounding areas of the temple and at some other places in the town. B Suresh, a local, lamented that the reputation of the temple will be lost due to such illegal activities and demanded that steps be taken immediately to curb this menace.
However, Excise CI V Rajasekhar said: “We are continuously conducting raids on ID liquor sellers and arresting them. But they also acquire bail quite easily. What can we do?”