Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that the state will cancel the licences of tourist establishments that do not follow fire safety rules, according to a report by PTI.
Sawant said that a fire safety audit committee set up by the government has already started inspecting various tourism establishments and will submit its report after completing the checks.
“If the committee finds that the establishments have not complied with the fire safety norms, then their licences would be cancelled and their premises will be sealed,” he was quoted by PTI as saying.
Safety rules strengthened across tourism sector
The chief minister said that to prevent such accidents from happening again, all establishments have been told to strictly follow the rules and regulations. He added that safety measures will also be put in place for water sports and adventure sports.
He said tourism operators have also been asked to make sure there are no physical fights between their staff and tourists. He added that strict action will be taken against touts as well.
Bulldozer action after Goa nightclub fire
This announcement comes after Goa authorities on Tuesday started demolishing Romeo Lane, the Vagator beach shack owned by brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. They also operate Birch in Goa, where a fire killed 25 people over the weekend. The demolition followed an order from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The demolition began on Tuesday evening, according to PTI, and videos on social media showed visuals of the action.
Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, who run the Birch by Romeo Lane restaurant in Goa where the tragic fire broke out on Saturday, have filed for anticipatory bail in Delhi’s Rohini Court to avoid being arrested.
These developments come just days after a massive blaze early Sunday morning at a nightclub in Arpora, which resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, most of them staff members. The Goa government has set up a committee to investigate the incident.