May release Birch inquiry report after chargesheet filed: Sawant

Porvorim: The opposition on Friday cornered govt by demanding a CBI inquiry into the Birch by Romeo lane fire that killed 25 in Dec. The opposition also demanded that govt fix political accountability, and rushed to the well of the house demanding the release of the magisterial inquiry report to the public. Additionally, leader of opposition Yuri Alemao said that a club owned by celebrity Shilpa Shetty is being operated illegally in Goa.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant told the House that he would act against those involved in granting permission to operate Birch in Arpora. He also said that state govt would act against businesses operating on tenanted land. He added that govt would take a decision on releasing the magisterial report after police file a chargesheet in the case.


Alemao said that on Aug 6, members raised the issue with regard to Birch, but the CM said it was noted. Alemao said that if govt had acted at that time, lives would have been saved. “Why did you not sack your minister, as he was equally responsible? We demand a CBI inquiry into the matter. We want govt to sack the MLAs and minister in the case. You need to fix political accountability,” Alemao said.

“There cannot be political accountability fixed, but after the inquiry, we will act against everyone,” he said. The opposition pointed out how commercial activities by Birch were permitted on tenanted land when it cannot be used for commercial activities.

Sawant said that govt conducted an inspection of 47 nightclubs in North Goa, and 17 were sealed, while inspections of 39 nightclubs in South Goa were conducted and five were sealed. “A total of 86 nightclubs were inspected and 22 were sealed; they were operating on trade licences and excise licences, and without permission of the fire department and consent to operate from the state pollution control board,” he said.

The CM said that as per the CZMP-2011, Birch did not come under CRZ, and that it was shown as settlement. “We wrote a letter to NCSCM to find out who did mischief in the plan,” said Sawant, adding that state govt is conducting an inquiry through the revenue department into who did the mischief.

Sawant said that Birch by Romeo Lane was operated for the first time in 1999 under the name ‘Blue Light’.

Alemao, meanwhile, said, “Somebody said that there is a club owned by Shilpa Shetty that is illegal, and such clubs are operating till date. How many unauthorised clubs in salt plans and CRZ continue to operate in the state? How much time will it take to shut these clubs? I read about Shilpa Shetty’s club on social media.”