HC notice to fire dept over ‘unsafe’ Calangute complex

Panaji: The Bombay high court has issued notice and asked the fire department to take immediate steps to address the violation of fire safety measures raised by a flat owner at Palmarinha de Goa a Calangute-based complex.

“In a major part of the premises, a hotel is being run. According to the petitioner, the passageway to the third floor and other floors is blocked. Considering these submissions, in the meantime, the fire department shall take steps immediately to address this issue,” stated the division bench comprising Justices Sarang V Kotwal and Ashish S Chavan.


The petitioner, Dr Benjamin Braganca, stated that the builder/developer started operations of a resort in the building and put up a blockage on the third floor, cutting off access to the rest of the passage of which he is a co-owner. This has resulted in him being boxed into a tight corner, and the landing space has become an imminent fire and safety hazard for him and his wife, both senior citizens, Braganca submitted through his advocate, Joel Pinto.

In addition to this, gates were also put on the second and fourth floors. The blockage/illegal construction is not shown as approved on the original construction licence of the building and is a major fire and safety hazard as his access has been blocked, rendering a risk in case of a fire with no alternative escape route, Braganca submitted to the HC.

The builder/developer has, over the years, converted apartments allotted to him for commercial use, and has been coaxing apartment owners to give their premises on rent back to the builder/developer for a pittance, it was submitted.