MLA had raised red flags against club in Assembly

PANAJI
The long-standing illegal status of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora—where a catastrophic midnight fire recently claimed 25 lives—had been flagged months ago in the Goa Legislative Assembly by BJP MLA Sankalp Amonkar.

Raising the issue during a Zero Hour mention on August 6 in the monsoon session, Amonkar had sharply criticised the government for allowing the club to operate despite the absence of mandatory permissions and the existence of multiple demolition orders against the structure. He had also tabled documentary evidence in the House, urging authorities to initiate immediate action.

According to Amonkar, the property—allegedly developed by one Surendra Kumar Khosla—was constructed illegally in an ecologically fragile area comprising paddy fields and salt pans at Survey Nos. 158/0 and 159/0 of Arpora village. He had pointed out that the site had been extensively backfilled over a water body to facilitate commercial activity, all without securing approvals from any competent authority.

Amonkar further informed the Assembly that the local panchayat had issued a demolition notice in April 2024, subsequent to similar actions initiated by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Town and Country Planning department. However, the demolition was later stayed, and the matter has since remained pending before the Additional Director of Panchayats.