Goa has been a popular destination for parties and beach weddings, and is projected as such. Over the years, people from across the nation and beyond have held their weddings along the beach belt with pomp and revelry, displaying grandeur, glamour and glitz. From ramps to special props and fireworks, the night is dominated by these elements as celebrations continue deep into the night. The Christmas and New Year parties do hold a similar ambience as people groove to music of different tastes.
However, the one element that has escaped scrutiny, or has been ignored, let alone the illegalities of nightclubs that Goa is currently battling, is the fact that open fireworks along the beach belt have gone unregulated. No beach wedding or a party is complete without fireworks, fireworks that not only light up the coastal sky with the accompaniment of ‘thunder’ it brings about. The question is, where are checks and balances?
If we may recall, last Sunday, a popular shack at Utorda Beach named Jamming Goat, which was undergoing renovation and which was scheduled to start during the Christmas season, was burnt to ashes during the wee hours, with the owners claiming that the overnight fireworks at a nearby venue sparked off the blaze. In August, two huts were gutted by fire at Calangute. At the start of the year, two shacks were extensively damaged in a fire at Gaurawada-Calangute due to New Year fireworks in the area. Shack owners claimed that balls of fire landed on the shacks, setting them on fire and causing extensive destruction.
Much has been spoken about illegalities on the beach belt, Coastal Zone Regulation violations, and fire safety regulations, to the extent that authorities have suddenly gone into scrutiny mode following the ghastly Birch nightclub tragedy. There are audits initiated, clubs sealed and asked to comply with rules. While that is being done, nobody has, in their extreme wisdom, given a thought to the danger that is threatening lives beyond these premises. A ball of fire shooting into an establishment could be destructive and cause serious loss to life and property as much as an electrical short-circuit inside.
Goans have been exposed to all sorts of dangers, having endured the pains of noise pollution all these years, with the system looking the other way despite the court’s intervention. Party and beach wedding organisers have had a free run in an unregulated space. There are no mechanisms to monitor the scale of fireworks, and there are no designated areas too.
Due to a lack of oversight, organisers have been flouting timing, scale, and safety protocols, and fireworks are conducted without obtaining safety clearances. This absence of regulation means there is no control over the type and quantity of fireworks used, nor any buffer zone to protect nearby establishments or residential areas. The question is, are authorities waiting for another Birch-type tragedy?
Fireworks could be inherently hazardous when used without proper safety measures. The shooting embers can easily ignite nearby structures, especially wooden shacks, tents, and beachside huts that are often built with flammable materials. Moreover, there is an environmental and ecological impact because fireworks at that scale release toxic chemicals and smoke polluting the beach environment, leave aside the distraction it causes to marine life, such as turtles.
It’s time the government views fireworks with the seriousness it deserves, and not rush with reactive measures once disaster befalls. Fireworks may be a part of a celebration, but a responsible celebration is the need of the hour, not a reckless one.
