Facing the heat from residents over growing number of dubious massage parlours operating along the Calangute coast, elected representatives in the area have voiced helplessness to tackle the problem and now want the laws to be amended by the government.
Claiming that many of these dubious massage parlours are linked to illegal activities like prostitution, both Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Calangute Panch and de facto leader Joseph Sequeira have admitted that the problem is serious and needs to be tackled immediately. However, both have highlighted the various problems in clamping down on prostitution activities along the Calangute coast.
While not all massage parlours, spas and salons in Calangute have been guilty of promoting illegal activities, the Calangute police have been conducting raids on prostitution activities in and around many spas and salons along the Calangute coast.
Police statistics have revealed that 21 cases pertaining to Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act have been registered by Calangute police between January 1, 2013 and June 30 this year. As many as 76 victims were rescued by the police, while 31 persons (26 males and 5 females) were arrested in these cases.
According to records, there are 19 spas and salons operating within the jurisdiction of the Calangute Panchayat, but many more are reported to be operating unofficially.
Speaking to Herald, Sequeira insisted that the Calangute panchayat has been issuing licences to the spas and salons based on No-Objection Certificates from the health department and Goa State Pollution Control Board.
“Locals have been voicing their grievances against such spas and salons, while a number of them have also been raided and shut. However, the panchayat body is duty bound to give permissions to set up spas and salons based on NOCs from the health department and Goa Pollution Control Board, while the police has no role during this permission process,” said Sequeira.
“However, we can only insist on an undertaking from the owners that they would not carry out any illegal activity in their business premises. Despite our best efforts to keep a check on any illegal activity in the premises, the panchayat is always in the firing line when any illegal activity is observed at the spas and salons,” Sequeira added.
Claiming that he has been trying his best to end illegal activities in the spas and salons, Lobo said he has asked the government to amend the laws to empower law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem and added that he would raise the issue in the forthcoming assembly session.
“I have requested Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is also the home minister, to amend the laws so that Goa Police can act firmly to curb the illegal practice,” said Lobo.
“I have also requested the chief minister to bring about an amendment to the Health Act to bestow additional powers on law enforcement agencies to carry out surprise raids on spas and salons, whenever necessary.”
“Residents of Calangute have been complaining about illegal activities at spas and salons, besides demanding action from the police. However, the police have no powers to directly raid a suspicious massage parlour and have to follow elaborate procedures before carrying out any raid on such dubious activities,” noted Lobo.
“The chief minister has promised me that he will plug the existing loopholes in the legal system and will work out a permanent solution to control illegal activities in these spas and salons. From my side, I will highlight the issue by tabling a motion during the monsoon session of the assembly,” said Michael Lobo.
Locals have been voicing their grievances against some spas and salons, while a number of them have also been raided and shut. However, the panchayat body is duty bound to give permissions to set up spas and salons based on NOCs from the health department and Goa Pollution Control Board, while the police has no role during this permission process.
Joseph Sequeira, Calangute panch
I have been trying my best to end illegal activities in the spas and salons, and I asked the government to amend the laws to empower law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem and would raise the issue in the forthcoming assembly session.
Michael Lobo, Calangute MLA
