Varkala Police have begun steps to shut 17 spas found operating without mandatory licences and authorisation documents during inspections ahead of the tourist season, prompting the force to notify the Varkala municipality for further action.
The inspection drive, conducted on Saturday across areas of Varkala, covered 20 spa establishments. Police said 17 centres failed to produce valid documents required to operate. The action was ordered by Rural SP Prasanthan Kani B K to check regulatory compliance before the coastal tourist destination sees an expected seasonal increase in domestic and foreign visitors.
Varkala DSP P V Ramesh Kumar said the establishments inspected could not produce the required permissions. Based on the findings, police have initiated steps to shut the unauthorised businesses and written to the municipality, asking it to take action against centres functioning without licences.
The inspection places the municipal licensing system at the centre of the response. While the police identified establishments that could not show valid authorisation documents, the municipality has been asked to initiate action against the businesses. The report does not specify the individual licences or permissions that each establishment lacked, or whether any of the 17 centres had pending applications.
The findings cover most of the establishments inspected in the drive: 17 out of 20, or about 85%, were unable to produce the required documents. The inspections were carried out before the coming tourist season, when Varkala is expected to receive a seasonal influx of visitors.
The police action also highlights the regulatory challenge faced by tourist destinations where businesses serving visitors operate across municipal and law-enforcement oversight. In this case, the police carried out the compliance checks and referred the unauthorised operations to the municipality for action. Further steps will depend on the municipal process and the documents submitted by the affected establishments.
Officials said the inspections were intended to ensure that spa centres in Varkala comply with the permissions required for operation. The immediate next step is for the municipality to act on the police communication while police proceed with measures to shut the centres identified as operating without valid licences.
