Birch by Romeo Lane: Panchayat had ordered demolition of Goa nightclub; govts stay order allowed ops

BAGA: The nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, which was built on Arpora’s traditional salt pans, was issued a demolition notice by the local panchayat, raising questions on how it continued operations despite several reported violations.Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch Roshan Redkar said that the panchayat, acting on a complaint stating that the club lacked a construction licence as well as a mandatory NOC from the fire and emergency services department, initiated the process and issued the demolition notice. “However, the promoters subsequently obtained a stay order and went ahead with the nightclub,” he said.The stay order was issued by the director of panchayats. However, the current holder of the post, Mahadev Araundekar, shrugged off responsibility, stating that the stay order was issued by his predecessor, Siddhi Halarnkar. “It has been going on with the additional director of panchayats,” he said.Additional director of panchayats Joao Fernandes said that an intervention application has been filed by one of the club’s partners about a dispute with the bar owners and landowners. A hearing will be scheduled on Dec 17 to hear arguments from all parties, he said.Later Sunday, govt suspended Halarnkar for allowing the nightclub to operate without valid licences.The complaint that initiated the panchayat’s decision was a Dec 21, 2023, letter to the mamlatdar, stating, “The discotheque, which is currently under renovation, is being run in an unstable structure submerged in a waterbody, which could give way at any time and cause a major tragedy involving the lives of innocent tourists. Construction is done without a conversion sanad and on tenanted agricultural land. Traditional sluice gates are demolished”.Following the tragedy late on Saturday night, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo (in whose constituency the nightclub falls) said that he would ensure strict measures in both Calangute and Siolim constituencies, represented by him and his wife. Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo also called for a full investigation. “There should be a thorough inquiry into the matter as to why the director of panchayats stayed the demolition notice,” she said.Delilah further said that a fire audit of all nightclubs and restaurants must be done along the coastal belt to ensure that all fire safety norms are being followed.The club is located on traditional salt pans. With the boom in tourism, many landowners began altering the landscape by filling pans with water to create lakes or reclaiming the land for parking spaces and temporary structures. Residents say that to avoid coastal regulation zone (CRZ) scrutiny, structures were often built using so-called eco-friendly materials.A resident of the quiet ward where the nightclub is located said the club’s arrival two years ago changed the character of the area entirely. “I grew up playing near the salt pans as a child. Even years after salt harvesting stopped, the land remained untouched. But after this structure came up two years ago, our quiet ward saw drunken tourists, noise, and traffic. It didn’t help the local economy either, as the nightclub mainly employed migrant workers. Today, the entire village is shrouded in mourning,” the resident said.