T’puram: Varkala Police on Saturday found 17 spas functioning without mandatory licences and authorisation documents during inspections held ahead of the tourist season.The drive was conducted on the directions of Rural SP Prasanthan Kani B K to check whether spa centres in the tourist destination had secured the required permissions. Officers inspected 20 establishments across the Varkala areas.Varkala DSP P V Ramesh Kumar said 17 centres failed to produce valid documents needed to operate. The police have begun steps to shut the unauthorised businesses and have written to the Varkala municipality, asking them to initiate action against centres running without licences.Officials said the inspections were intended to ensure regulatory compliance as Varkala prepares for the seasonal influx of domestic and foreign tourists during the coming months.
