Goa’s glittering nightlife has come under the grip of government strictness just before Christmas and New Year this year. After the massive fire at the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub located in Arpora, North Goa, the state government has started a major action against the nightclubs violating the rules. 25 people lost their lives in this fire. Its direct impact seems to be on both the fun and pockets of the tourists.
Christmas and New Year season is considered to be the busiest and most profitable season for Goa. Lakhs of tourists from India and abroad reach here during this period. But this time, even before the festivals, the administration has cracked down on nightlife. Joint teams of district administration, fire and emergency services and police are conducting a thorough investigation of all the nightclubs located in the tourist belt of North Goa.
Why are the clubs being sealed?
According to government officials, the licenses, permissions and fire safety arrangements of each club are being closely scrutinized. Any club found violating the rules is being sealed on the spot. Kabir Shirgaonkar, the officer leading this special operation, has clearly said that there will be no compromise on security.
According to PTI report, till now in this action two big and famous nightclubs of Vagator area, Goya Club and Cafe CO2 Goa, have been sealed. According to officials, Goa Club was built on agricultural land, while Café CO2 Goa did not have the mandatory NOC from the fire department and there were questions over its structural strength. The special thing is that Cafe CO2 was located on a rock on the Goa seashore and was considered very popular among tourists.
Not only this, orders have also been issued to cancel the fire NOC of Diaz Pool Club and Bar located in Anjuna area. A surprise check conducted on Saturday found that the fire safety arrangements there were inadequate and needed to be upgraded immediately.
Why will the cost of visiting Goa increase?
The effect of this strictness is clearly visible. Many clubs have temporarily closed their doors, while many others are facing a crackdown. In such a situation, options for tourists coming to Goa may be limited and expenses may also increase in the clubs that remain open.
The government has a clear message that by learning from the accidents, safety will be paramount, no matter how much it affects the nightlife. In such a situation, if you are planning to go to Goa on Christmas or New Year, then be prepared to spend heavily, because this time there are some restrictions on fun and there may be more burden on the pocket.
