PANAJI
The State government has granted a one-week extension to the Magisterial Inquiry Committee headed by the North Goa Collector, to complete its probe into the tragic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora that claimed 25 lives, and submit a report.
The four-member committee was formed on December 8 and was originally directed by the government to submit its findings by Monday (within eight days).
However, due to ongoing verification of documents and the continued examination of officials linked to the case, the committee sought additional time to conclude the inquiry. The request has been approved by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Apart from the North Goa Collector, the committee comprises Superintendent of Police (South) Tikam Singh Verma, Director of Forensic Sciences Ashutosh Apte and Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services Rajendra Haldankar. The panel has been tasked with ascertaining the exact sequence of events and circumstances that led to the deadly incident and placing its findings before the government.
According to sources, the committee is currently scrutinising the legality and validity of various permissions and licences issued to the nightclub by multiple authorities. The inquiry is also focusing on the role of officials responsible for granting no-objection certificates (NOCs) and identifying lapses, if any, in compliance with safety norms.
So far, the committee has questioned the then Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Member Secretary Shamila Monteiro, who has since been suspended, as well as the original landowner, Pradip Ghadi Amonkar. Sources indicated that summons are likely to be issued to former Director of Panchayats Siddhi Halarnkar, Arpora–Nagoa Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, suspended village panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, among other officials connected with the approvals and clearances.
The panel will not only reconstruct the chain of events leading up to the blaze but will also fix responsibility on the departments or agencies found accountable. It is also expected to recommend corrective and preventive measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
The massive fire at the Arpora nightclub killed 25 people — four tourists and 21 staff members — while six others sustained injuries. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire was triggered by the use of electrical fireworks inside the premises.
