CALANGUTE: Continuing its drive against illegal nightclubs at Baga, the Calangute panchayat on Friday sealed four more establishments, including Tito’s. The adjoining Tito’s Courtyard will be sealed on Monday, said sarpanch Joseph Sequeira.He said that the action followed a report submitted by a joint inspection committee appointed by the Bardez district magistrate. The committee included officials from the district magistrate’s office, fire and emergency services, directorate of panchayats, excise department, food and drugs administration, as well as the PWD chief engineer.“They have submitted a report stating that these places do not have a construction licence, occupancy certificate, and other mandatory clearances,” said Sequeira.Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeir also said notices were issued in June to 17 establishments to demolish unauthorised structures. “After giving them ample time, we are now sealing them,” he said.Sequeira said that while violations had continued for years, the issue came under sharper focus following the devastating blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane in Dec. “After that fire, the can of worms has burst open,” he said.He also pointed to what he called regulatory inconsistencies. “People blame the panchayat, even though a trade licence for restaurants is to function till 11pm. The excise department issues licences to operate till 4am, but nobody questions it,” he said.With four establishments sealed on Thursday, the total number sealed had reached eight by Friday evening. Sequeira said more would be sealed over the next few days. “We will continue sealing for the next three-four days. We couldn’t seal some of these clubs because they don’t even have doors,” he said.Panchayat officials used a welding machine and iron rods to seal premises that did not have doors.“Some of these clubs have one place on the ground floor and another on the first floor with two different names and no doors,” the sarpanch said, adding that some structures were partly legal with large illegal extensions.Meanwhile, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo alleged that several clubs were fronts for prostitution. “Clubs were mushrooming again because the tourism season is about to start. The clubs that are mushrooming are nothing but the dance bars which were sealed earlier,” said Lobo.He also alleged that massage parlours were increasing and should be sealed. “In the name of massage parlours, they’re doing all kinds of dubious activities,” he said.
