Bhubaneswar: As dance bars have been have finally received a nod following lot of debates and discussions, the State government has come out with a set of guidelines to ensure safety, security and dignity of dancers performing at these establishments. Moreover, as per the new guidelines, provisions have been made to shut liquor shops on National and State highways by 8PM.
As per the new guidelines issued by the State Excise department, the bar girls will have identification cards. These cards will require the details of their identity and an undertaking of their willingness to perform. After scrutinizing these details, the excise department will give its approval. Moreover, the commissionerate police will check whether the rules laid down in the bar licenses are being strictly followed or not. A CCTV will be installed inside the dance bars which the Excise department can verify the footage at different intervals.
“In order to protect the dignity of performers we have framed the required guidelines. If certain accidents are reported during the performance, then action will also be taken against the bar owners,” said excise minister Damodar Rout.
On the other hand, the Excise department has also framed guidelines by restricting operations of the liquor off shops located on the national and state highways. Of the 704 such liquor shops, 649 have been relocated 50 meteres away from the highways, and 48 closed down. In case of 7 others, the matter is in High Court. As per the new guidelines, the opening times of shops on highways have been curtailed to 8PM. However, such shops situated in densely populated urban areas have been excluded.
“Liquor shops on both sides of the National or State Highways will have to shut down by 8PM. However, such shops are located in concentrated developed area and are coming under an NAC or a municipality the 8PM rule will not apply,” said Excise department additional secretary, Pramod Kumar Panda.