Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Dec 20: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Saturday sealed the popular beach shack and restaurant Curlies at Anjuna, nearly 18 months after the National Green Tribunal upheld an order for its demolition over alleged violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
Officials said the sealing was carried out to facilitate detailed mapping of the structure before proceeding with demolition of portions found to be encroaching into CRZ areas. The well-known party venue, infamous for hosting all-night rave parties, has been under the scanner of authorities for over a decade.
“As per the violations noticed, we have initiated action. A detailed mapping will be conducted, after which further steps will be taken,” GCZMA member secretary Sachin Dessai said.
The sealing operation was undertaken by officials from the revenue department, along with personnel from the Goa police, GCZMA and the Bardez mamlatdar’s office. Authorities said the move is part of a larger statewide drive against illegal constructions along Goa’s coastline.
GCZMA officials clarified that the action was based on an existing demolition order and was not linked to the December 6 fire incident at Birch nightclub. The decision to seal and carry out fresh mapping was taken at a GCZMA board meeting held two days earlier.
“There is a demolition order already in force. Part of the demolition was executed earlier, but some structures were shifted by the owner. Hence, fresh mapping is necessary to identify the exact portions that need to be demolished,” an official said.
Curlies was constructed on Survey No. 42/10 under the jurisdiction of the Anjuna panchayat and later expanded into adjoining plots. Authorities pointed out that the key violations include construction in a no-development zone and breaches of CRZ-III norms.
A technical report prepared in 2008 by Remote Sensing Instruments, Hyderabad, established that no structure existed at the site prior to 1991. Officials said the shack was initially built without mandatory GCZMA permissions and subsequently expanded beyond the original structure.
Authorities stressed that sealing the premises was essential as the shack was still operational and attracting tourists, which could interfere with accurate mapping.
The establishment has been embroiled in controversies in the past. In 2008, it drew international attention after a British teenager was found murdered on the nearby beach. In 2017, drugs were seized during a police raid at the shack following the deaths of two persons due to drug overdose during a party at Anjuna.
The GCZMA order also mandates restoration of the land to its original condition, underscoring the government’s efforts to enforce environmental laws, ensure public safety and protect Goa’s fragile coastal ecosystem.