The Maharashtra government Wednesday decided to issue an ordinance to ban dance bars, many of which are alleged to be a front for prostitution, across the state.

The long-awaited decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Officials say the ordinance, cancelling the licenses of all dance bars in the state, would be implemented within the next couple of days. The ordinance would provide for stringent penalties for those flouting the order.

The cabinet has not taken any decision on the rehabilitation of the girls employed in the 2,000 odd dance bars in the state, officials added.

Varsha Kale, president of the Indian Bar Girls' Union, said the ordinance would be challenged in court.

"We were waiting for the ordinance to come out all this while. Once we get to see the fine print, we will definitely go to the court to challenge the decision," she said.

The government had announced its decision to shut dance bars across the state on the grounds that they promote flesh trade and adversely affect society.

These bars, euphemistically called ladies' bars, usually have women entertaining customers looking for food, liquor and, sometimes sex. In many of these places dancers don skimpy outfits and mingle with the customers while dancing to film music.

Over 2,000 dance bars operate in Maharashtra, India's most industrialised state. Apart from the dancers, the bars employ thousands of others, as waiters and for other jobs.

The women working in dance bars had urged the government to formulate a rehabilitation package before implementing the shut down decision. The women say that without a clear rehabilitation programme, many of the dancers in bars across the state would be forced into prostitution.