Goa nightclub: fire was obviously caused by negligence rather than an accident

Goa nightclub: The drug trade has undoubtedly expanded quickly in Goa as well. Is there a plan in place to preserve Goa?

There is a worrying undercurrent hidden behind Goa’s image as a bustling paradise with electrifying evenings and sun-soaked days. Beneath the well-known nightlife of the coastal state comes a darker scene where drug networks operate with impunity, intimidation is rampant, and corruption festers. The existence of merchants of death, whose careless disregard for security mostly goes unchecked, is the most concerning. Many people think the local government is like Mahatma Gandhi’s three monkeys: it doesn’t want to see the truth, doesn’t want to hear the truth, and doesn’t want to talk about the truth. A terrible result of this mentality is the recent nightclub fire catastrophe in Goa.

Before delving into the specifics of this fire disaster, it is crucial to remember that India has set up a Green Tribunal to protect the environment, led by a former Supreme Court judge. How can we expect high-quality tourism in a nation that disregards environmental protection? A country’s future may be changed by tourism. The best example is Spain. Its economy had fallen apart, but it was able to recover via tourism. However, how is India’s tourist industry doing? In general, travelers may be divided into two groups, as I have said in previous columns: domestic and foreign tourists. Some international visitors are wealthy, while others have very little money. Regretfully, Goa draws more vacationers on a tight budget. Many of them lack the funds necessary for their return trip. They thus take part in a variety of activities in an effort to live. In Goa, this is precisely what is taking place. I had also brought up this matter in Parliament, but there is such a strong connection in Goa that nobody seems to care.

The fact that beaches overseas get particular attention is another crucial factor. Damage to the coastal environment is prohibited. However, what is going on in our nation? According to our regulations, no building is permitted within 500 meters of the shore. However, in practice, a wide range of activities are conducted well inside this 500-meter area. Marine life is being harmed by the casinos’ disregard for environmental regulations. Aquatic creatures are becoming more and more infected. Even though we released papers with hard data, the local government ignored us.

The nightclub where the fire started was built illegally and is situated in an isolated, mountainous, and uneven territory some 25 kilometers from Panaji. Even getting relief and rescue teams to the location takes a long time since the approach roads are so unpaved and undeveloped. People fled to the basement to rescue themselves when the fire started, but there was no ventilation there. They were unable to locate a way out. The fire quickly spread as sparks from electric firecrackers struck the timber roof. Why were electric firecrackers permitted at all when the ceilings were wood? In 2023, complaints were already made over the club’s unlawful development. Later, the discharge of sewage into the river was also the subject of criticism. The club was examined by the Arpora Panchayat in January 2024, and a warning about the unlawful building was given two months later, in March. Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the club’s proprietors, did not even respond to this warning, however. The club was constructed on agricultural property, according to a notification sent by revenue authorities. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority also handed another notice. But the Luthra brothers were so powerful that they threw all of these notifications in the trash!

In fact, Goa has turned into a haven of plunder for powerful individuals from all across the nation who are politically protected. The Luthra brothers of Delhi also saw their Goan nightclub as a way to make money. For them, it didn’t matter whether they survived or died. This is shown by their cruel behavior after the fire tragedy that claimed the lives of twenty-five persons. At approximately 1:15 in the morning, they were aware of the enormous fire. They would have hurried to Goa to offer condolences if they had even the slightest bit of compassion left. Rather, they purchased airline tickets to Thailand and departed the nation at 5:30 a.m. They are now being held by the Thai police, nevertheless, and it is anticipated that they will soon return to the jurisdiction of Indian law.

This begs the important question: Who will stop the illegal operations of nightclubs and casinos, the egregious disregard for safety, and the open drug trade that is thriving in Goa? Who is going to bring law and order back to that place? Tarun Tejpal, a well-known journalist at the time, molested a colleague in 2013, yet many incidents like this are still just forgotten. The condition has become worse due to drugs. Manohar Parrikar, the chief minister at the time, acknowledged in 2018 that drug trafficking is a problem in Goa. Cocaine valued at Rs 43 crore was found in Goa in April alone. A Nigerian national was detained in March, while a German national was nabbed in February. Only a tiny portion of the issue is represented by these arrests. It is important to keep in mind that a number of other societal ills always accompany the flow of drug money. Goa is now dominated by the cab mafia. Taxi drivers may charge up to Rs 5,000 for a trip from South Goa to the Manohar Parrikar International Airport. Doesn’t the government know this?

Let me provide you with some facts before I wrap up. In 2019, 90 lakh foreign visitors traveled to Goa prior to COVID-19. Only 15 lakh foreign visitors showed up last year. Why? I should also clarify that I have nothing against nightclubs in general. But the most important condition is that nightclubs be entirely secure and retain a class. Goa is now in serious difficulty.