MARGAO
Perhaps for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic raised its ugly head in the State around six months ago, deputy Collector, Margao has got a hair and beauty salon sealed in the commercial capital under the Disaster Management Act.
Officials of the Salcete Mamlatdar and the Margao police sealed the hair cutting salon on Thursday morning upon orders issued by the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margao Jyoti Kumari, IAS.
In her order, Jyoti directed the owner of the salon to close the premise located at Khareband-Margao in view of the Covid-19 pandemic under the National Disaster Management Act until necessary permissions are obtained to operate the establishment. In the order, Jyoti spoke about the fact that the salon was being operated without a trade licence and health card.
“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic under the National Disaster Management Act, the salon has to be closed until necessary permissions are taken,” the order stated.
The order was issued after Margao Police filed a report with photographic evidence stating that the salon was still carrying out normal business and has requested to initiate necessary action against the operation of the illegal business in violation of the order.
Police and Mamlatdar officials on duty at the spot informed that they have only executed the order issued by the deputy Collector, Margao, to seal the salon within a time-frame.
This is perhaps the first time that the authorities have acted against a salon during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic on grounds that it was operating without a trade licence and health card when these issues fall within the domain of the Margao Municipal Council and the health authorities.
Questions are raised in official circles why the Margao Municipal Council, which is the licensing authority to issue licence for the business establishments, was caught napping in initiating action against the salon operating without the mandatory permissions.
