The fire that killed 25 people at a nightclub in Goa has brought into focus administrative lapses and questions on how the establishment has been operating without obtaining the requisite permissions and licences.
The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane, located in Arpora village, late on Saturday night. Four tourists and 21 club staff members died in the blaze.
On Sunday, police booked Romeo Lane chairman Saurabh Luthra, club partners, managers and event organisers, with the FIR stating that the “restaurant was found operating without obtaining permissions/licences from the competent authorities”.
The sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat, Roshan Redkar, on Sunday alleged that the structure was built without procuring a construction licence. Redkar said the nightclub was run by Luthra, and there had been a dispute between him and the land owner, and another dispute with his business partners, leading to some complaints. “After an inquiry, we issued a demolition notice after following due process. However, the demolition notice was stayed upon appeal,” Redkar said. In the evening, Redkar was questioned by the Goa Police regarding the demolition notice, and was subsequently released.
A complaint in December 2023, filed by Pradeep Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, to the panchayat alleged that properties in two survey numbers, including the one with the club, were illegal constructions in an eco-sensitive zone (salt pan). The complaint warned that the club was being run in an “unstable structure submerged in a water body, which could, [at] any time, give way” and cause “a major tragedy involving the lives of innocent tourists”.
In April 2024, after an inquiry, the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat held that the construction was illegal and issued a demolition notice, directing the owner of the property, Surinder Kumar Khosla, to demolish the unauthorised construction of shops, restaurants, structures and platforms within 15 days. Subsequently, the property owner filed an appeal before the Deputy Director of Panchayats, who then granted a stay to the demolition notice, allowing the club to operate.
The issue was also flagged by the BJP MLA from Mormugao, Sankalp Amonkar, in August in the Goa Legislative Assembly. The MLA had flagged concerns of “massive illegal constructions” carried out in a “highly ecologically sensitive area containing paddy fields and salt pans” in two survey numbers in Arpora village, including the property where the fire broke out. “The illegal constructions are done by large-scale back-filling of the water body for the purpose of commercial activities, without any permissions or approvals from any concerned authority. Inspite of the demolition notice issued by the village panchayat in April 2024, the authority has failed to act,” he had said.
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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a press conference on Sunday that suspension orders would be issued against errant officials who allowed the club to operate despite illegalities. Soon after, the government suspended three officials — Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, the then Director/Additional Director of Panchayat; Dr Shamila Monteiro, the then Member Secretary of Goa State Pollution Control Board; and Reghuvir D Bagkar, the then Secretary of village Panchayat, Arpora-Nagoa.
In the press conference, CM Sawant said the Revenue Secretary has been tasked with conducting an audit of clubs and business establishments to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
