Valpoi, Aug 13 (TOI): Villagers of Surla-Sattari on Sunday demanded the immediate closure of all existing bars and urged the government to issue a notification to close these premises permanently.

They threatened to go on a ‘Door Lock Movement’ and sit on the highway along with family members, including children, if bars are reopened on August 21.

The reaction comes after some bar owners claimed that their premises will reopen on August 21, after the collector’s order shutting down bars for 30 days expires.

On Sunday, around 400 villagers took out a rally in the village shouting slogans against the adverse effect of bars which results in unruly behaviour by tourists. Later the rally culminated into a public meeting wherein villagers from Surla addressed the public.

President of Surla Nagrik Kruti Samiti Ganu Gaonkar said people in Surla are living in peace after nearly 20 years.

Santosh Goankar, a villager, said that for the last several years tourists were creating nuisance in the village by consuming alcohol due to which villagers would remain indoors. “These tourists curtailed the freedom of villagers,” Goankar said.

He added that the agitation will continue till their demand is fulfilled by closing the bars permanently.

Suryakant Gawas, panch of Thane village, said he wants his village free from tourists. He added that previously many road accidents took place due to the operation of these bars as tourists drink and drive. “If these bars are permanently closed down, then no accidents will occur,” said Suryakant.

Ganesh Gaonkar from the village said they won’t allow bar owners to restart their businesses and “the villagers with our children will sit on the road and agitate”. He added that there is a government high school in Surla which will shut down in the future if bars are reopened as parents will not admit their children due to the nuisance in the village. “The government does not bother about the school but is bothered about bars,” he said.

For the last several years, people from neighbouring states frequently visited Surla during the monsoon to take in the seasonal waterfalls and cheaper alcohol prices. Once drunk, these groups of tourists would allegedly create a ruckus in the village by blocking roads, abusing women with bad words, eve-teasing and fighting with locals, thereby disturbing the peace.

Few women also complained that tourists do not hesitate to enter their houses in an inebriated state.