Birch under-reported seating to avoid having to install STP: Inquiry

Panaji: The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora in Dec, which led to the tragic death of 25 persons, saw a number of violations by establishments along this stretch being exposed. It has now emerged that Birch under-reported its seating capacity to 150 to avoid setting up a sewage treatment plant (STP).

The magisterial inquiry following the fire also found that a very ‘superficial’ testing was carried out.In its recommendations, the magisterial inquiry committee has asked the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to recover compensation for any water pollution by Birch. It is feared that under-reporting seating capacity and not having a STP has led to possible contamination of water in the saltpans where the structure had been constructed, violating various norms.The GSPCB has begun a scientific study to test for deterioration in water quality along the entire stretch where Birch was located.“The committee observed that there was under-reporting of seating capacity in order to avoid installing an STP. This not only is a violation of the norms but also does irreparable damage to the ecologically-sensitive zones and water bodies which may lead to groundwater contamination.

Therefore, an intensive verification drive should be conducted especially in the coastal areas and densely populated areas to ascertain if there are more such establishments where consents have been issued,” the board was told.The committee told GSPCB that if there is deterioration of water quality, environmental damages should be levied from the violators as per the ‘polluter pays’ principle.“The committee observed that the inspection report as well as the report subsequent to the complaints lack detailing and were superficial in nature, missing critical details required for decision-making.

Therefore, a robust digital reporting system should be made which should include geo-tagged site photographs in all cases,” the board was told by the inquiry committee.Birch by Romeo Lane was granted consent to operate under Water Act and Air Act to operate a restaurant for a seating capacity of 150. This consent was valid up to Jan 31, 2039. After the tragic fire, the consent was revoked on Dec 17, 2025.The board had suspended one scientific assistant and one junior environmental engineer for not following rules and for unlawful conduct leading to grant of consent to operate.

An inquiry against the two is presently on.The committee observed that as per the estimation for water requirement for drinking and domestic use issued by the Central Groundwater Authority, total consumption of water in litres per head for kitchen in restaurants is mentioned as 70 litres per seat.Therefore, for an establishment with 150 seats, the water consumption comes out to 10.5KLD and waste water to 8.4KLD.

The committee observed that there is a possibility that several consents where seating capacity has been under reported to 150 seats may have been given to avoid installing an STP.It has told GSPCB that all such permissions need to be checked and seating capacity should be reinspected and the consents reexamined. The board is carrying out a verification drive accordingly.The Board has said it has sealed 14 establishments for violations of consent to operate after the Birch fire.The scientific assessment should include comparative analysis of the physical parameters of the waterbody vis-a-vis other saltpans in the area, the board has been told.