Goa Nightclub Fire: Venue Flagged for Illegal Construction in 2024, Assembly Told

The Goa government has informed the Legislative Assembly that the nightclub where 25 people died in a fire last month had been flagged for illegal construction in 2024, months before the tragedy.

In a written reply tabled on Friday, State Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte said the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora in North Goa was constructed by illegally converting land and by demolishing a traditional sluice gate inside a salt pan.

Documents submitted to the House revealed that the original landowners, Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, had filed a complaint with the Bardez taluka mamlatdar on December 21, 2023, raising serious concerns about unauthorised construction and safety violations.

The complaint was lodged against the then Maizon Lake View Resort, later renamed Birch by Romeo Lane after being leased to brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. The complainants had entered into an agreement to sell the property to Surinder Khosla, the resort’s proprietor.

According to the complaint, construction was carried out without land conversion or zoning approval, and included unauthorised structures on tenanted land. It also alleged that the traditional sluice gate had been demolished and that sewage was being discharged into the Baga river.

Crucially, the complainants had warned that the discotheque was operating in an “unsafe structure which could cause a major tragedy”, and flagged misuse of open spaces in violation of building by-laws.

Following the complaint, the Arpora–Nagoa panchayat talathi conducted an inspection and confirmed gross illegalities, including construction within the salt pan and large-scale landfilling.

As per official records, 25,750 square metres of land was filled to an average height of 1.5 metres. The site plan earmarked:

• 4,000 sqm for parking
• 7,500 sqm for shops
• 7,250 sqm for landscaping and water sports
• 3,600 sqm for landscaping in the western portion
• Two central structures measuring 2,000 sqm and 1,400 sqm, where the nightclub-cum-restaurant operated

The documents further stated that despite claiming to possess valid approvals, Surinder Khosla failed to produce any documents, even after being given multiple opportunities over nearly two months.

The information was presented in response to a question by Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai during the winter session of the Assembly held from January 12 to 16.

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