Source The Hindu
PANAJI (Goa): A major controversy has erupted in the aftermath of the devastating fire at the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, with the man claiming to be the original landowner alleging that a portion of his property was illegally and silently rezoned by government officials.
Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, who has been embroiled in a two-decade-long legal battle over the land in Arpora village, North Goa, claims that a section of his property was converted from an eco-sensitive salt pan into a settlement zone without his knowledge or consent. This change, he alleges, was made to facilitate the operation of the nightclub, which was gutted by fire on December 6, claiming 25 lives.
Zoning Change Discovered Amidst Tragedy
Amonkar told the press that he discovered the dramatic zoning change only on Thursday while preparing legal documents for a petition to the High Court in connection with the fire tragedy.
“The government quietly changed the zoning of my land without informing me. How can a salt pan be converted into a settlement zone?” Amonkar questioned, asserting that he was never served any legal notice despite his ongoing litigation over the property.
The deadly blaze, which claimed the lives of mostly staff members and some tourists, has shone a spotlight on alleged illegal constructions and regulatory failures in the region.
Two-Decade Legal Tussle Over Land
Amonkar’s fight to reclaim the land dates back to 2004. He stated that he initially signed a sale agreement with Surinder Kumar Khosla, but withdrew it within six months due to non-payment. Despite the cancelled agreement, Khosla allegedly proceeded to establish a nightclub on the disputed property, which was later taken over by Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane.’
“For 21 years, I have been fighting in courts to get back my land in Arpora, which has been wrongfully occupied,” Amonkar said, suggesting the zoning change was an unauthorized move to regularize the illegal construction.
Official Inquiry Underway
The allegations of illegal land conversion add another layer of complexity to the fire tragedy, which has already led to the detention of the nightclub owners, the Luthra brothers, in Thailand and a statewide crackdown on illegal establishments.
When approached for comment on Amonkar’s claims, a senior official from Goa’s Town and Country Planning Department declined to respond, stating that an inquiry into the matter is currently in progress, and it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage.
This unfolding property dispute is expected to be a key focus of the ongoing state and judicial inquiries into the Arpora nightclub fire.
