Goa nightclub blaze spurs probe into violations since 1999
Goa nightclub blaze spurs probe into violations since 1999
Goa's CM unveils a wide‑ranging probe into CRZ violations dating back to 1999 after the Birch by Romeo Lane fire that claimed 25 lives.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Birch by Romeo Lane, the Arpora nightclub gutted in a fire last month with 25 lives lost, operated under different names over the years. The government will conduct a probe into violations since 1999, including illegal construction on salt pans and operation on tenanted land.
Sawant told the state assembly that no VIP protection will shield violators and that action will be taken against commercial establishments operating without permits. He noted the opposition’s questions about Coastal Regulation Zone enforcement and said the CZMA has received 534 complaints between 2021 and 2025 and issued 336 demolition orders. The Coastal Zone Management Plan of 2011 is finalised, and the 2019 version will be finalised within a year.
As part of a crackdown on illegal nightclubs, 47 tourism-related premises were inspected in North Goa, with several found to be lacking licenses or permits. The probe also examines the club's history of name changes and whether authorities approved its operation on tenanted land on a salt pan.
The government stressed that no violator would escape scrutiny and that the inquiry aims to ensure safety and accountability in Goa’s tourism hub, where authorities say enforcement will continue.
