The tragic fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Panaji earlier this month, which claimed 25 lives, has cast a harsh spotlight on the rampant violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms along Goa's picturesque coastline. Investigations revealed the ill-fated establishment was operating despite gross CRZ violations, raising urgent questions about enforcement.
A Flood of Complaints, A Trickle of Action
Data from the last five years paints a stark picture of inaction. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has been inundated with 555 formal complaints concerning CRZ breaches. The Bardez taluka led this grim tally with a majority of 255 complaints. However, the authority's response has been critically weak. Out of all these cases, only 138 resulted in any form of demolition, translating to a mere 24% enforcement rate. Even these were not always complete, with some being only partial demolitions.
Why Demolitions Were Delayed or Shelved
Official records reveal a pattern of systemic failure where state machinery often failed to support the GCZMA's orders. Police and district administration officials frequently cited other priorities, leading to prolonged delays or outright cancellation of demolition drives.
In one instance from April 2024 concerning a resort in Sernabatim, the Salcete mamlatdar informed GCZMA that the demolition could not proceed because the Executive Engineer for roads in Fatorda, Margao, "did not possess the required machinery."
Another order in Benaulim was not executed in April 2022 after the Colva police station's Police Inspector wrote to the authority stating his staff was deployed for 'Sagar Kavach' security duties and thus could not provide police arrangements.
A similar delay occurred in Sernabatim in November 2020 when the mamlatdar reported the panchayat secretary was absent from the site, and the Colva PI informed over the phone that his force was deployed near a railway double-tracking site in Nessai, Sao Jose De Areal.
Contrasting Tales of Enforcement and Approval
Despite these hurdles, Salcete taluka emerged as the zone with the highest number of executed demolitions at 105 over the five-year period. This figure includes six instances of self-demolition by violators. In contrast, Bardez, which received the most complaints, saw only 19 demolitions carried out.
The backlog remains immense. Of the 555 complaints, approximately 250 cases are still pending, indicating a painfully slow disposal rate. Fifteen demolition orders were not executed for various reasons, including violators seeking legal recourse in courts.
Ironically, while enforcement lags, the GCZMA appears efficient in granting permissions. State records show the authority approved around 800 proposals in the last five years, with a very low rate of rejection.
The deadly Birch fire has now become a grim symbol of the consequences of this enforcement gap, forcing a reckoning for Goa's coastal management authorities.
