MARCOS GONSALVES
MARGAO/ CALANGUTE: A sweeping crackdown launched in the aftermath of the deadly Arpora nightclub inferno has uncovered stag gering levels of non-compli ance across Goa’s hospitality and entertainment sectors. Not a single nightclub, res taurant, shack, or commer cial entertainment establish ment inspected in Salcete and Canacona was found op erating with all mandatory permissions, exposing what officials describe as ‘system ic’ and ‘alarming’ regulatory failures. The coordinated opera tion includes teams from the Fire and Emergency Servic es, Electricity Department, Public Works Department, Police, Excise Department, Food and Drugs Adminis tration, Pollution Control authorities and Tourism Department. Together, they are uncovering widespread patterns of unlicensed op erations, expired clearanc es, structural hazards, and illegal expansions across multiple talukas. On the first day alone, officers inspected eight es tablishments in South Goa. Every one of them showed at least ten statutory vi olations — many serious enough to threaten public safety. Officials say the ex tent of the violations points to prolonged administrative neglect, deliberate evasion by operators and, in some cases, potential corruption. Among the most serious findings was the absence of occupancy certificates from local panchayats — basic approvals that certify structural safety. Several es tablishments have operated for years without these cer tificates, raising concerns about how they secured li cences or renewals and why enforcement failed. Violations spanned all regulatory domains. Several establishments lacked valid FDA permissions for food handling; some had failed to renew their licences for years. Excise teams report ed illegal liquor sales, ex pired liquor licences and operations without manda tory bar permits. Pollution Control officials noted the absence of consent-to-op erate certificates in multiple venues, leaving waste man agement, noise output and effluent standards entirely unchecked in ecologically sensitive coastal zones. Tourism-related viola tions were also widespread, with numerous businesses operating without required departmental clearances despite marketing them selves as tourism-centric. In several cases, inspectors flagged structural instabil ity and unapproved alter ations — conditions that pose significant risk during peak tourist inflows.
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A source directly involved in the inspections told O Heraldo, “As on the first day of the drive, it has been found that all the establishments inspected have major violations. Not a single establishment is operating legally with all the required per missions.” A comprehensive report is now being prepared and is expected to trigger action at multiple administrative levels. In North Goa, similar inspection drives have been carried out under the guidance of the District Collector, North Goa, in Pernem, Bardez and Tiswaditalukas. Around 15 clubs in Calangute are under scrutiny, with the North Goa Joint Inspection and Monitoring Committee conducting assessments under updated safety protocols. In a significant development, Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said the licences of prominent nightclubs are like ly to be ‘temporarily suspended’ unless they produce valid NOCs from fire services, health authorities, excise, FDA, and other relevant departments within three days. “This incident has opened our eyes. We don’t want a repeat of Arpora. From now on, unless they have NOCs from all these departments, we will not give licences. It’s our mistake that without NOCs we’ve been giving licences,” he said. The village panchayat has written to 17 establishments de manding immediate compliance. Operators who fail to submit NOCs risk having their premises sealed. Sequeira clarified that while licences will be temporarily suspended, establishments may resume operations once all clearances are submitted. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo added that many business es will require substantial upgrades to meet fire-safety standards, including installation of sprinklers, emergen cy exits and new plumbing systems. “The establishments will have to redo the entire plumbing to install sprinklers, emergency exits, etc., to make them fire-safety compliant. Till they comply and get the NOC, there will be temporary suspension of licences,” he said. Sequeira also highlighted a recurring loophole that has long enabled unregulated nightclub operations. “The panchayat issues only restaurant licences, which several operators later convert into full-fledged clubs without ob taining additional approvals. There are about 17 such plac es in Calangute. Now it’s for the police and other authori ties to decide whether nightclubs can operate with only a restaurant licence,” he said. As Goa confronts the fallout of the Arpora disaster, the ongoing inspection drive marks the first large-scale at tempt to enforce compliance. (With inputs from Pedro Me nezes)
