Goa Tourism Minister calls Birch by Romeo Lane fire a very tragic episode, seeks accountability
Panaji, December 10
Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday described the recent fire incident involving the Birch by Romeo Lane establishment as a "very tragic episode", stressing the need for clear accountability and a fact-based inquiry into the matter.
Speaking to reporters, Khaunte clarified that the fire occurred at Birch by Romeo Lane, an outlet not under the Tourism Department's purview because it was not registered with the department.
"What happened (fire incident) is a very tragic episode. This particular episode occurred at Birch by Romeo Lane, which did not fall under the purview of the Tourism Department for registration purposes. Everyone who was there needs to be made accountable, and action needs to be initiated...," he said.
He added that the previously demolished Romeo Lane structure in Vagator was a different entity altogether and had been brought down due to its illegality.
"The Romeo Lane, which we have demolished due to its illegality, is in Vagator. There are two distinct constituents, two distinct parts... In the fire incident, an inquiry has already been set up, but this inquiry needs to come out with a proper factual report," he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the district administration demolished part of the Romeo Lane restaurant in Vagator, Goa. The restaurant is owned by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, who also own Birch by Romeo Lane, where a fire tragedy claimed 25 lives on Sunday.
Earlier today, ahead of the demolition drive, Deputy Director of Goa Tourism, Dhiraj Wagale, said, "We will demolish the encroachment on the beach side. The total area to be demolished is 198 square metres."
The massive blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday at a nightclub in Arpora, triggering a high-casualty incident. The Goa government formed a committee to investigate the incident.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Very tragic indeed. My prayers are with the families. But sir, respectfully, saying it's not under Tourism's purview sounds like passing the buck. As Tourism Minister, the safety of visitors in Goa, regardless of registration, should be your concern. The focus should be on fixing the system, not defining jurisdiction.
So the owners had another illegal structure demolished in Vagator? This raises serious questions. Were there any safety violations at the Arpora place too? The inquiry must be swift and transparent. Goa's image as a safe tourist destination is at stake.
Absolutely tragic. These are not just numbers, they are someone's children, parents, friends. The demolition after the fact is necessary, but what about proactive checks? How many more such unregistered, potentially unsafe venues are operating? Hope the committee's report leads to real action.
Visiting Goa often from the UK, this is shocking news. Safety standards must be uniform and enforced strictly. The clarification about two different entities is confusing for the public. Authorities need a single, clear window for licensing and safety audits for all hospitality businesses.
Heartbreaking incident. Accountability should mean fixing responsibility on the owners for any negligence AND on officials for any lapses in oversight. "Not registered with us" cannot be an excuse. What is the mechanism to identify and shut down such unregistered places before tragedy strikes?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.