Govt wants wall around Mumbai bar dancers

The Maharashtra Home Department has drummed up a tough new beat for the city’s teeming dance bars.

A new circular to bar owners states that among other things, dancing women must at least maintain a 5-feet distance from the customers. Bar owners say the rules are ‘‘impossible’’. ‘‘We will fight the Home Department tooth and nail in the high court,’’ says Manjit Singh Sethi, president of the Fight For Rights Bar Owners Association.

‘‘I will implement the new rules as soon as they are notified,’’ says Police Commissioner A.N. Roy.

Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Ahmed Javed said the circular will ‘‘first go to the licensing branch and then to the police for implementation’’.