TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Saturday requested the State government to formulate specific rules and regulations while permitting restaurants in the State, to stop illegal activities in these establishments.
Briefing reporters on the Supreme Court judgment regarding dance bars in Maharashtra, Lobo said efforts were being made by owners of dance bars/pubs to re-open their premises, after they had been closed down by authorities. “About 15 dance bars or pubs are already in possession of an excise license, besides a restaurant license, even though Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has stated that the State government will not grant excise license to Dance Bars, etc. The State government should formulate rules and regulations through local bodies to stop illegal activities in the premises,” said Lobo.
“The decision of the supreme court on dance bars is good as well as bad. It is good for the genuine dance girls who eke out a living by dancing in these bars or pubs, while it is bad as there may be no control over activities like prostitution and such joints will then flourish in the State.”
“Since our BJP government came into power, we have shut down almost 15 dance bars which were set up during the last seven years in Calangute. The owners are now preparing to re-open their establishments armed with the Supreme Court order,” Lobo added.
