India, April 9 -- Residents across Gurugram are alleging ahatas, the space adjoining a liquor vend to facilitate drinking, are cropping up on agricultural land and green belts, and inaction by authorities despite multiple complaints filed with authorities and CM Window about the misuse of land and regulatory violations.

According to civic agencies, nearly all ahatas in Gurugram operate on non-commercial land, with around 40% of them coming up on private agricultural land and 60% on green belts. Residents alleged they did not take a change of land use permission and subsequently lacked building plans, occupancy certificates, and fire safety clearances.

While excise rules mandate that liquor vends must be located on approved commercial pl...