Panel seeks docs based on which permissions granted

PANAJI

The Magisterial Inquiry Committee probing the deadly Arpora nightclub fire that killed 25 has sought detailed documentation based on which permissions were granted by various authorities to the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub that had no construction licence.

The Committee headed by North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav has written to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Panchayat department seeking documents pertaining to various site inspections and permissions and the basis on which the permissions were granted.

According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the structure did not have any construction licence and all the permissions granted by authorities were based on the trade licence issued by the local Arpora-Nagoa panchayat.

As per sources, the GSPCB had in March 2024 granted Consent to Operate under Air and Water Pollution Act to the nightclub. Being a green category industry, the consent was valid till 2039.

On the other hand, citing CZMP 2011, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had declared the controversial club as “legal” last month dismissing multiple complaints against the structure citing environmental concerns.

GCZMA Member Secretary Sachin Desai concluded that the structures were entirely legal since they purportedly fell outside the Coastal Regulation Zone, thereby eliminating any alleged CRZ violations and there is no environmental clause.

The Directorate of Panchayat is under scanner after it stayed the demolition order of the local panchayat against the nightclub. The demolition order was issued in April.

The committee has to investigate the chain of events that led to the deadly fire and fix accountability on agencies or departments responsible and recommend preventive and corrective measures.

The Committee has to also verify the compliances of all necessary licences and determine the lapses. The committee has been granted authority to call for all records, documents, etc from the concerned departments and if required summon the individual concerned for investigation.

Superintendent of Police (South) Tikam Singh Verma, Director of Forensic Sciences Ashutosh Apte and Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services Rajendra Haldankar are members of the committee.