Sets today's deadline for clearing plans amid crowd safety concerns
PANAJI
With the memory of last year’s fatal stampede still shaping official response, the North Goa district administration has set a tight April 10 deadline for clearing the layout of stalls for the fast-approaching Shree Lairai Devi zatra, even as it constituted a multi-agency committee to vet the proposal and enforce strict crowd-control norms.
In an order issued by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), directions have been given that no stalls would be permitted without prior approval of a layout designed to maximise corridor width and prevent bottlenecks, which has been identified as a major trigger for crowd congestion.
The move comes following directions of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which took cognisance of crowd management lapses after the 2025 stampede that led to six deaths and around 80 injuries.
The annual zatra, scheduled for April 21 at Shirgao in Bicholim, draws thousands of devotees, tourists and locals, making it one of Goa’s most crowded religious gatherings.
Citing recommendations of a government-appointed fact-finding committee, the administration reiterated that vendors must be confined to designated zones away from core movement paths, and that any violation of vending restrictions would invite immediate, including criminal action.
It also barred local bodies from issuing permissions or no-objection certificates without clearance from the district administration.
To scrutinise the proposal submitted by the temple’s managing committee on stall locations, the DDMA has formed an eight-member panel led by the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer of Bicholim. The panel includes representatives from the police, fire services, public works, electricity department, the temple committee, the village panchayat, and the Mamlatdar, who will serve as member secretary.
The committee has been tasked with examining the layout against safety recommendations, submitting its report by April 10, today, and overseeing on-ground enforcement, including removal of unauthorised stalls.
Officials have also stressed mandatory compliance with electrical and fire safety norms, alongside earlier directions to clear encroachments and maintain road safety in and around the venue.
