This is the second major fire along Pernem’s coast in under two weeks, after a massive fire had destroyed seven beachfront restaurants at Arambol beach in the wee hours of April 4.
According to sources, the fire in Ashwem began at about 8.45 pm and locals had initially attempted to bring the fire under control. When their efforts proved unsuccessful with the growing blaze, the Pernem fire station was notified.
By the time fire brigades rushed to the site, seven cottages were destroyed in the fire. Efforts were underway till late Thursday night to bring the fire under control.
Fortunately, there were no injuries as no one was staying in the cottages at the time of the incident. Sources said tourists had booked some cottages but were not in the rooms at the time of the incident. As some of their belongings remained inside the burning cottages, some people attempted to retrieve their valuable possessions by breaking the locks on the cottages.
The cause behind the fire remains unclear, as investigations are in progress.
Incidentally, these cottages were embroiled in a controversy, amid allegations that these luxury cottages had been erected on land near the Ashwem Ajoba temple without clearances from the GCZMA.
Both the temple committee and the local panchayat had raised objections regarding the construction of these cottages in close proximity to the temple.
Following complaints from locals with the GCZMA, advocate Amit Sawant”who was serving as Sarpanch at the time”had issued a show-cause notice. The panchayat had also issued an order for the demolition of these cottages.
However, the party concerned had succeeded in obtaining a stay order from the Directorate of Panchayats against the panchayat's demolition notice.
When contacted, Mandrem Sarpanch, Kiran Sawant confirmed that a demolition order for these luxury cottages had been issued by the panchayat.
“The Mandrem Panchayat had not granted any form of license or permit for these cottages. While the party concerned had managed to secure a stay order from a higher authority regarding the demolition notice, the Mandrem Panchayat was, in the interim, preparing to seal the premises,” said Kiran Sawant.
Incidentally, the proprietor of the cottages in question had earlier organised a meeting at the temple, which was attended by representatives of Mandrem Panchayat and the Ajoba temple committee.
During this meeting, the proprietor had reportedly assured that he would voluntarily dismantle the cottages built on a specific portion of the land and hand that area over to the temple committee. However, no steps were taken to fulfil that promise.
Incidentally, the fire which destroyed the cottages led to murmurs that the land was cleared following divine intervention.
