PANAJI
That the fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora that killed 25 people has exposed safety lapses and laxity on the part of authorities to act is by now an accepted fact.
However, it also throws up an opportunity for the government and the link departments in the administration to cover the gaps and brace up to the challenge of overseeing these 'nightlife' business activities, which are unarguably a major draw in Goa's bouquet of tourism offerings.
Goa’s statutes require nightclubs to obtain multiple licences, including fire safety clearances and sound permissions. Birch had neither.
Most glaringly, the rule banning amplified music beyond 10 pm was flouted. Witnesses say, and multiple videos show, that the party was in full swing well past midnight when the raging and killer flames abruptly ended the revelry.
That violation could have been the handle for police or revenue officials to shut the venue down hours before the tragedy. Instead, enforcement was absent.
The dual nature of coastal belt clubs complicates matters. Birch, like many others, operated with an indoor dance floor and DJ console, while music spilled outdoors to seated areas. Residents often complain of sleepless nights as sound systems carry beats across neighbourhoods.
A senior official at the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) admitted these venues are usually licensed as indoor spaces.
“Only on special days like Christmas or New Year do they apply for extra sound permissions,” he said. He clarified that the GSPCB is not the enforcing authority.
“The police and revenue officials are notified for sound permissions. We’ve only been pulled in for oversight because of our technical expertise,” he added.
The tragedy now underscores a dangerous cocktail: lax enforcement, overlapping jurisdictions, and a booming nightlife industry that thrives on bending rules.
For grieving families, the questions are raw. For the State, the challenge is stark — will this disaster finally force authorities to clamp down, or will business as usual continue until the next tragedy?
