MAPUSA
The protection money racket – popularly known as hafta system – along Goa’s coastal belt has for years been an open secret among locals, activists and those who matter.
The deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora has now blown the lid off what locals describe as a well-oiled racket involving nightclubs, politicians and enforcement agencies.
According to multiple allegations from former public representatives, activists and residents, restaurants-cum-nightclubs operating along the Candolim–Calangute–Anjuna–Vagator stretch have survived not on compliance with the law, but on regular payoffs that allegedly travel up the political and administrative hierarchy.
A former sarpanch of Anjuna, while speaking informally to this reporter during coverage of noise pollution violations, had bluntly stated that all clubs and restaurants in the coastal belt paid to operate.
“The money goes right to the top,” he claimed, even urging the reporter to expose the hafta collections that, he said, emboldened establishments to flout laws with impunity.
When asked to be quoted, however, the former sarpanch retreated into silence.
‘Offers’ to restart
sealed clubs
That silence cracked last week when a coastal sarpanch publicly stated that after he shut down four to five clubs for irregularities, some owners approached him with “offers” to restart operations.
His candid admission has lent credibility to long-standing allegations that enforcement is routinely neutralised through inducements.
Former Calangute MLA Agnel Fernandes has openly alleged that a deeply entrenched hafta culture exists along the coastal belt. According to him, Birch by Romeo Lane was allegedly paying around Rs 25 lakh per month, while smaller clubs paid about Rs 10 lakh.
Ex-police officer
breaks ranks
A former senior police officer, speaking to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, said the allegations were neither exaggerated nor new.
“Everyone in the system knew what was happening. When establishments repeatedly violate noise norms, fire safety rules and licensing conditions yet continue to function, it doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because money changes hands – regularly,” the officer said.
The officer further said that pressure to “go slow” on certain establishments often came from outside the police hierarchy.
Paying to survive
Residents say the hafta system is the backbone of the coastal party economy.
“How will these restaurants function without paying haftas?” asked Jawish Moniz, a Vagator resident who has been at the forefront of the fight against illegalities.
“It won’t stop. In fact, after the Birch incident, the rates will go up. Tragedies don’t dismantle the system – they strengthen it,” he said.
Assagao-based activist Desmond Alvares alleged that clubs pay on a nightly basis.
“Each club pays nearly Rs 1 lakh per night. After the fire, it would have gone up to at least Rs 2 lakh,” he claimed, alleging that police personnel and political middlemen act as collection agents.
Alvares pointed out that the tragedy has had virtually no impact on the party circuit.
“Parties are still on, in full swing almost every night in Vagator-Anjuna. Loud music continues till late hours. Clubs like Raeeth, Salud, Dynamo, Noah, Clara, 9 Bar, House of Chapora, Istorea and Sharabhi are still hosting events,” he said.
Another official
speaks
A retired official from the tourism administration, also requesting anonymity, said the regulatory framework itself is deliberately porous.
“Multiple departments are involved – panchayats, GCZMA, fire services, excise, police. The loopholes are well known and conveniently exploited,” the official said.
“When violations are noticed but not acted upon, it’s because the system has already been ‘managed’,” he added.
A ‘win-win’ situation
Local resident Pradeep Salgoankar described the arrangement as a criminally convenient equilibrium.
“It’s a win-win for everyone except public safety. The violator runs the business, politicians and officials get their cut, locals get tourist money. Everyone shares the hafta pie – until someone burns to death,” he said.
He explained how clubs bankroll the system: entry fees ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000, tables costing Rs 50,000 or more and patrons willing to pay for hassle-free access.
“It’s obscene money. And as long as the cash flows, laws don’t matter,” he said.
Buying silence
This reporter can personally attest to the pressure to look the other way.
While covering noise pollution along the Anjuna–Vagator belt four to five years ago, an official approached this reporter, urging him to “go slow” on reporting and even attempting to slip an envelope to buy silence.
The offer was refused. The loud music never stopped – and neither did this newspaper’s reporting.
A tragedy long anticipated
Almost every club along the coastal belt is allegedly illegal in one way or another – lacking fire clearances, environmental permissions or mandatory licences.
For many, paying off the “high and mighty” has allegedly become the only way to stay in business.
The hafta culture, residents allege, runs deep – managing everyone from politicians at various levels to enforcement authorities.
The Arpora fire tragedy has merely torn the veil off a system that many insist has existed for years.
Unless this nexus is dismantled, critics warn, Birch by Romeo Lane will not be the last tragedy – and the cost of this criminal indifference will continue to be paid in human lives.
