Panaji: A magisterial inquiry into the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives earlier this month, has found that the ill-fated structure stood in the middle of a salt pan and was not permissible under any law. The report also found that the establishment was allowed to operate without a valid trade licence, pointing to serious lapses and collusion at multiple official levels.
The report, placed before a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in the presence of senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, states that the revised site sketch depicts the hexagonal structure at the middle of the salt pan or water body.
The inquiry observed that the structure was situated in the middle of the salt pan or water body and that such construction was not permissible under any law, either currently or earlier. It further noted that the conversion of a salt pan violated Section 32 of the Land Revenue Code as well as Coastal Zone Regulations.
The inquiry records that the Village Panchayat of Arpora–Nagoa issued an establishment licence on December 16, 2023, to Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP for running a bar and restaurant-cum-nightclub, valid until March 31, 2024. The licence was not renewed thereafter.
The report states that the premises continued to operate illegally without a valid trade licence and that no action was taken by the Village Panchayat to seal the property. It adds that Section 72-A of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act empowers the sealing of premises operating without a licence.
The Panchayat secretary admitted that although he was aware the trade licence had not been renewed, he did not inform other line departments that had relied on the licence issued by the Panchayat to grant permissions. He also conceded that he did not initiate sealing action even after the demolition order was issued.
The report further states that the sarpanch admitted the Panchayat neither sealed the premises nor informed departments to cancel the licences.
The inquiry concluded that this established collusion with the owners of the property in allowing the restaurant to continue operating illegally and noted that conduct rules were violated.
The inquiry also flagged alleged forgery and procedural violations in the application for the 2023 licence, observing that entries such as house number and description of bar and nightclub appeared to have been added later in different ink. It noted that several mandatory documents, including approved plans, photographs, and land records, were missing.
It further recorded that the application was inwarded on December 11, 2023, the Panchayat resolution was passed on December 14, and the final certificate was issued on December 16, indicating that the process was completed in a hasty manner.
The Panchayat secretary admitted that he did not verify the house number while issuing the trade licence to the restaurant operating in the hexagonal structure.
The committee recorded that structures on Survey Nos. 158/0 and 159/0 at Arpora were illegal from inception, as no conversion from agricultural to non-agricultural use had been undertaken.
It stated that illegal constructions began in 1998–99 and that house numbers and trade licences were subsequently issued on salt pan land in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms. The Panchayat secretary admitted that house numbers were given to stalls and shops located in the Coastal Regulation Zone, in violation of CRZ regulations.
