Goa: Dance bars face legal action, 11 sealed

Panjim: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Thursday initiated the process to sell 11 bars and pubs of Bailey’s in Calangute after it was found that they were operating without obtaining consent to operate from the GSPCB. GSPCB officials along with Mapusa Deputy Collector, Bardez Mamlatdar and Calangute police started raiding 11 out of 13 bars and pubs operating in the coastal area. It was revealed that only two Bailey Bars had obtained GSPCB’s consent to operate. The establishments sold were Devil’s Club, Norm’s Pub, Black Heart, Shield/Next Level, Three Kings, Mehfil, 39 Steps, Posh Nosh, Tropical 24×7, Codda y Plantain Leaf Rest. It is known that only two establishments, Chawla Dilwala and Club Tao, had obtained GSPCB’s consent to operate. Last week, the Superior Tribunal of Bombay in Goa had asked the Panchayat Director and the GSPCB to initiate action against alleged illegal structures located within the jurisdiction of Calangute Gram Panchayat, which were allegedly operating illegal bars and dance pubs. . The tribunal also accused the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) as a plaintiff, after it revealed that five structures were constructed in areas affected by the CRZ notification. The tribunal has fixed the next hearing for January 8, 2024.