Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday told the state Assembly that the Arpora nightclub gutted in a fire last month, killing 25 people, had operated under different names over the years, and that violations dating back to 1999 would be probed.
Replying to questions from the Opposition, Sawant said the establishment, most recently known as Birch by Romeo Lane, had repeatedly changed its name since it was granted permission in 1999 on tenanted land.
“The name of the club kept changing. The inquiry is being conducted into the violations of the club, right from 1999 when it was granted permission to be established on a tenanted land,”
Sawant said.
The Chief Minister said his government had launched an extensive crackdown on tourism establishments operating without mandatory permits and asserted that no violator would receive VIP protection.
The fire at the Arpora nightclub in North Goa last month triggered sharp exchanges in the House, with Opposition members demanding accountability and stricter enforcement of safety norms.
Also read: Goa nightclub fire: Arpora sarpanch, panchayat secy dismissed
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao sought details of establishments violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) laws and accused the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) of lax enforcement. In response, Sawant said the CZMA had received 534 complaints between 2021 and 2025 and issued 336 demolition orders.
He said the Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2011, stood finalised, while the 2019 plan would be completed within a year.
Responding to a joint question by Alemao and Congress MLA Alvares Ferreira, Sawant said inspections of tourism-related premises had led to the sealing of 22 establishments across North and South Goa. He said these premises were operating without no-objection certificates from the Fire and Emergency Services Department and consent from the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
Sawant also pointed out that some restaurants had later been converted into nightclubs after obtaining extensions to serve liquor.
Rejecting allegations that influential owners were being shielded, the Chief Minister said,
“Whether a VIP or VVIP, no one will be given protection, and they will have to follow the mandatory rules.”
He said the magisterial inquiry into the fire had been completed but would be made public only after a chargesheet was filed. A Red Corner notice has been issued against club owner Surinder Khosla, he added.
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