The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has finally sealed the controversial Curlies Restaurant in Anjuna, marking the climax of an 18-month legal saga. This decisive action came after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld a demolition order against the popular beachfront party venue for alleged violations of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms.
The Sealing Operation and Official Stance
Revenue department officials, supported by Goa police and representatives from the GCZMA and the Bardez mamlatdar's office, carried out the sealing operation. GCZMA member secretary Sachin Dessai confirmed the move, stating that detailed mapping of the property will now be conducted to identify the exact portions that encroach into CRZ areas before proceeding with demolition.
Officials were quick to clarify that this action was not a reaction to the recent fire at Birch nightclub on December 6. Instead, it was based on a pre-existing demolition order, with the final decision to seal and map the property made at a GCZMA board meeting just two days prior to the operation.
A History of Violations and Legal Battles
The restaurant, constructed on Survey No. 42/10 within Anjuna panchayat, has been under scrutiny for over a decade. Authorities allege it was built without proper GCZMA permissions in a No Development Zone, violating CRZ III norms. A key piece of evidence was a 2008 technical report by Remote Sensing Instruments, Hyderabad, which proved no structure existed on the site before 1991.
"There is a demolition order in operation. The demolition was partly executed and then some structures were moved by the owner and thus fresh mapping has to be done," explained a GCZMA official. The establishment had expanded from a small original structure into adjacent plots over the years.
Notorious Past and Broader Coastal Cleanup
Curlies is not new to controversy. Its history includes:
- In 2008, it gained notoriety when a British teenager was found murdered on the nearby beach.
- In 2017, Goa police discovered drugs during a raid ordered by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, following the drug-overdose deaths of two men at an Anjuna party.
The sealing of Curlies is part of a broader, statewide crackdown on illegal structures along Goa's ecologically sensitive coastline. The GCZMA's ultimate order mandates the restoration of the land to its original state. Officials emphasized the importance of closing the operational shack before mapping to prevent further tourist activity on the disputed site.
This action underscores the authorities' renewed focus on enforcing environmental laws, ensuring safety, and protecting Goa's fragile coastal ecosystem from unauthorized development.
