Thursday, March 31 2005 11:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Dance bars all over Maharashtra, barring Mumbai, would be closed down with immediate effect, as it was not possible to enforce the rules strictly due to lack of adequate police force, the State Government said yesterday (Mar 30, 2005).

Replying to a calling attention discussion in the Assembly on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, R R Patil said that dance bars flourished all over the State and have an adverse effect on the youth, damaging the cultural texture of the State.

Sufficient police staff has helped in strict enforcement of rules in dance bars in Mumbai, which was not possible elsewhere, as police units across the State are short-staffed, he said adding that a committee would finalise norms for Mumbai bars.

"Many of these bars do not have entertainment licences and were flouting norms laid down under eatery and liquor licence issued to them," Patil said.

He said that the Government would also take a decision on not issuing fresh licences for dance bars in the State.

The Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) held agitations to protest against the bar culture and even submitted a memorandum to Thane police chief, to cancel licences of dance bars. But there has been a rise in the number of such bars, they said.

The recent raid on 'Baywatch' dance bar in Khalapur has revealed that such bars are centres of flesh trade, they said.