Goa nightclub : Following the fire the well-known eatery “The Cape Goa” was closed for breaking the regulations
Goa nightclub: For violating fire and other safety regulations, authorities have shut “The Cape Goa,” a well-known eatery perched on a cliff in the South Goa region, they said on Tuesday.
The sealing order issued on Monday said that while the Tourism Department had authorized one temporary private shack, it was found that the enterprise was functioning as a full-fledged restaurant outside of the approved plinth area.
According to the report, continuing to operate the property without the required safety certifications presents an immediate, serious, and genuine risk to people’s lives and property, especially in the case of a fire, electrical short circuit, structural breakdown, or other emergency requiring evacuation.
The action follows a devastating fire that killed 25 people on December 6 at a nightclub in Arporal, North Goa.
The order to seal “The Cape Goa,” which is situated on a cliff near Cabo de Rama Fort in Kuddi village in South Goa district, was issued on Monday by Maya Pednekar, the chairperson of the joint enforcement and monitoring committee for Canacona taluka.
On December 12, a team under Pednekar’s leadership inspected the establishment and discovered many infractions at the well-known eatery, according to the authorities.
The “imminent threat to human life and property” is mentioned in the sealing notice.
“Upon careful consideration of the inspection report and material placed before me, I am satisfied that the danger is real, proximate and imminent; the premises is being used in a manner endangering public safety; and immediate intervention is necessary in the interest of protection of human life and property,” the order read.
During the examination, the committee found that the restaurant was being run and used in flagrant disregard for the necessary safety regulations.
In accordance with the order, the kitchen was deemed hazardous, without a suitable escape, and running with a high fire hazard risk; the premises were determined to be overcrowded, housing over 24 people, far above acceptable limits; and no authorized structural plan or structural stability certificate was supplied.
“There was no way out of the pantry area, which presented a major safety risk. It was discovered that 29 commercial LPG cylinders were kept in the open, close to the exhaust blower/duct, which is quite dangerous.
It said that there was an imminent and significant risk of fire and explosion due to the lack of a designated LPG bank and the failure to install LPG gas leak detectors.
According to Pednekar, the restaurant sitting area, kitchen, staff pantry, storage, bakery, and another storeroom below the restaurant lacked fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment, and there was no separate escape from the restaurant area.
“Cooking ranges were positioned in movement areas, and the kitchen area and entry/movement paths were blocked. The order said that there was “no obvious signage indicating entry, exit, escape routes, or assembly point.”
The committee noted that the MCB distribution board was discovered to be open and dangerous, and that 29 commercial LPG cylinders blocked the departure outlet.
There were loose joints and connections, and the whole wiring was hazardous.
Additionally, it said that one temporary private hut had been approved by the Tourism Department.
“However, it was observed that the establishment is operating a full-fledged restaurant beyond the sanctioned plinth area, with a bar counter, attached kitchen, bakery, pantry, staff mess (with approximately 120 staff members), staff rooms in the basement, around 40 tables with an average seating capacity of 120 persons, housekeeping room, electrical room, feeding room, additional storage room, spa room, etc., which is far in excess of the capacity and area approved by the Tourism Department,” the order read.