Arpora Club Cubana all set to reopen?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM, DEC 12
After about a two and half years of closure following the court order, the popular night club at Arpora Club Cubana is all set to reopen and shockingly the government has no knowledge of the issue.
The Club Cubana was closed down, after the High Court of Bombay at Goa, hearing a petition filed by one Hemant Sirsat, had granted interim relief to close down the club citing various illegalities.
Surprisingly, the Cub owners are now planning to host a huge new year’s party at the place.
In their latest update on Facebook, popular social networking site, the owner Daniel Shah has said that the club will be hosting a New Year’s party from “Friday, December 31 at 9 pm - Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 4 am” to usher in the New Year.
“Amazing place....more info soon!, ! Club Cubana is not open....Yet! Only on New Year Eve - a grand Party!,” the update on Facebook says.
What is more shocking is that the district administration or police have no knowledge of the issue.
When contacted Dy Collector Dashrat Redkar said the owners haven’t applied for any permission till date in his office.
“Whenever the application comes we will see,” he said adding “nothing is come as of now.” Anjuna police station Police Inspector Manjunath Desai was also ignorant of any such the development.
“They haven’t asked for any permission yet,” he said adding “normally when the application comes to us we forward it to the Home department which decides on granting permissions in such matters.”
Nonetheless, he said, “they may have directly applied to the Home department I have no knowledge.” Recently, he said the clearance for two Saturday night markets came directly from home department.
Consistent efforts to contact the Under Secretary Home Siddhivinayak Naik proved futile.
Aprora Sarpanch Agnelo D’Souza, however, confirmed there are plans to re-start the club.
“I have no knowledge about the New Year’s eve party as of now but they have definitely approached us for re-starting the club stating that the court has given clearance,” he said adding “we have asked him to produce the order and we will then see what best can be done.”
Sources in the Arpora panchayat have also told Herald that the owners have already started hectic lobbying for converting the agricultural land, where the club is set up, into a settlement zone in the new Regional plan which is to be announces shortly.
The court in the order had observed that the structure of Club Cubana was originally a farmhouse and the sanad issued is restricted for residential purposes.
Further the court had said that there was no sanction from the collector under the Sanad clause 3, which reads as under:
“The applicant shall not use the said land and building erected or to be erected thereon for any purpose other than residential / industrial / or any other non-agricultural purpose without previous sanction of the collector.”
The court had also observed that the night parties etc at the place is causing nuisance and restrained the owners in carrying out commercial activities in the farm such as dance parties, sale of liquor, running or restaurant and playing loud music.
Despite consistent efforts the owners of the club could not be contacted for comments.