PANAJI: The original landowner of the fire-ravaged Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa has claimed that a portion of his property was illegally converted from a salt pan to a settlement zone without his knowledge, according to news agency PTI.
Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, who is currently in a legal battle over the property, made these allegations following a devastating fire at the club on December 6 that killed 25 people in Arpora village, North Goa.
Amonkar revealed that he had initially signed a sale agreement with Surinder Kumar Khosla in 2004, but withdrew it within six months due to non-payment. Khosla subsequently established a nightclub on the property, which was later acquired by Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who operated Birch by Romeo Lane.
"For 21 years, I have been fighting in courts to get back my land in Arpora, which has been wrongfully occupied," Amonkar told news agency PTI.
The landowner discovered the zoning change while preparing documents for a high court petition regarding the fire tragedy. He expressed concern about the unauthorized conversion of the property's status.
"The government quietly changed the zoning of my land without informing me," he said. "How can a salt pan be converted into a settlement zone," he questioned.
Amonkar emphasized that he was never served any notice about the zone change despite ongoing litigation over the property.
A senior official from Goa Town and Country Planning declined to address Amonkar's allegations, stating that an inquiry into the matter is currently underway and it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage.
The fire incident at the nightclub resulted in the deaths of mostly staff members and some tourists who were present at the venue around midnight on December 6.
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