In a contin ued and widening crackdown on safety violations in tourism estab lishments following the deadly Ar pora fire tragedy, authorities have sealed another prominent hospi tality outlet in South Goa, signal ling that enforcement action is no longer confined to North Goa’s nightlife hubs. ‘The Cape Goa’, a popular hos pitality units in Canacona, was sealed on Monday after a joint inspection found what officials described as grave and life-threat ening violations of fire, structur al, electrical and statutory safety norms. The action comes even as four nightclubs — three in Bardez ta luka — have already been shut down for similar lapses, under scoring the State government’s zero-tolerance approach in the aftermath of the Arpora blaze that claimed 25 lives. The sealing of The Cape Goa was carried out by the Joint En forcement and Monitoring Com mittee for Canacona, led by Exec utive Magistrate Maya Pednekar, invoking Sections 152 and 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Surak sha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The order followed a detailed inspec tion conducted on December 12, beginning at 12.25 pm, by the committee constituted by the De partment of Home, Government of Goa.
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“The premises were being operated in gross violation of mandatory statutory safety requirements, creating a real and imminent risk to human life,” the official order stated. During the inspection, the committee found the estab lishment to be severely overcrowded, accommodating far more people than the permitted capacity of 24 persons. Authorities noted that no approved structural plan or structural stability certificate was produced. Critical func tional areas such as the kitchen and pantry were found to be unsafe and poorly designed, with inadequate exits, sig nificantly heightening the risk during a fire or emergency. Inspectors flagged serious hazards in the bakery section, which housed a 300-kg oven but lacked proper ventilation or emergency exits. The water purifier was found to be un hygienic, while internal movement routes within the kitch en were obstructed. An oil fryer was placed dangerously close to an entry/exit point and one fire extinguisher was found discharged and unserviceable. The inspection further revealed unsafe storage of 29 commercial LPG cylinders near exhaust ducts, with no designated LPG bank and no gas leak detection system installed. Emergency exits were obstructed, and fire extin guishers were missing in several key areas, including the restaurant, kitchen, pantry, staff rooms, and storerooms. Electrical safety conditions were described as alarming, with an open MCB distribution board, loose wiring, and an improperly installed exhaust chimney. A discharged CO₂ cylinder was also found near the smoking area, compound ing the fire risk. Authorities also noted major deviations from permis sions granted by the Department of Tourism. While approv al had been issued for a single temporary shack measuring 8 × 18 metres, the premises were functioning as a full-scale restaurant complex. The site included a bar counter, kitch en, bakery, staff mess catering to around 120 employees, basement staff rooms, 40 tables seating approximately 120 guests, a spa room, multiple storage areas, and housekeep ing rooms—far exceeding the sanctioned plinth area. Additionally, the inspection recorded alteration of the NDZ slope and construction activity within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The owner failed to produce man datory approvals, including construction licence, occupan cy certificate, trade licence, and Town and Country Plan ning (TCP) clearance. Terming the situation “imminent, grave and real,” Exec utive Magistrate Maya Pednekar ordered the immediate sealing of the premises. The order categorically prohibits any person from entering, occupying or operating the es tablishment until full compliance with safety, structural, electrical, and statutory norms is achieved and verified by competent authorities. Electricity and water connections have also been disconnected. The order clarifies that the action is ex-parte due to the ur gent threat to public safety and is preventive and temporary in nature, not punitive, and does not determine civil or crim inal liability. The owner has been granted a post-decision al hearing before the South Goa Collector at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex in Margao within 15 days, subject to submission of documentary proof of compliance.
