Popular Goa Restaurant Curlies Sealed by Authorities
In Anjuna, Goa, a well-known restaurant called Curlies has been closed down by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). This action comes about 18 months after a national court said the restaurant must be partly pulled down for breaking rules.
Why Curlies Was Sealed
The restaurant was shut because it broke rules about building near the coast. These are called Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms. Officials will now carefully measure the area to find out exactly which parts were built illegally and need to be removed.
Curlies is a very popular party spot, famous for its late-night events. For over ten years, officials have been watching it for breaking rules. However, until now, no strong action had been taken.
Official Statements and Next Steps
Sachin Dessai, a secretary for GCZMA, said, "We saw the rules being broken, so we started action. We will measure everything carefully, and then we will do more."
Police and other government officials helped to close the restaurant. This is part of a bigger plan across the state to remove all illegal buildings along Goa's coastline.
GCZMA officials explained that the order to pull down parts of Curlies was already in place. This order was made even before a fire happened at another club on December 6. The decision to close Curlies and measure its parts was made at a meeting two days before the sealing.
An official added, "There is already an order to pull parts down. Some parts were removed, but then the owner moved some structures. So, we need to measure again. We want to know exactly which part of the building must be demolished."
Details of the Violations
The restaurant was built on land in Anjuna and then grew onto other plots. It broke rules by:
- Building in an area where no construction is allowed.
- Not following CRZ III rules, which are about building near the coast.
A report from 2008 showed that nothing was built on that land before 1991. The building was put up without the right permissions from GCZMA and was later made much bigger from a small original structure. Officials said it was important to close the restaurant first because it was still open and serving tourists.
Curlies' Past Problems
The restaurant has had a difficult history:
- In 2008, a British teenager was found murdered on the nearby beach, bringing the place negative attention.
- In 2017, police found drugs during a Sunday night raid at the beach shack. This raid was ordered by the chief minister at the time, Manohar Parrikar, after two men died from drug overdose after partying in Anjuna.
Goal: Restore the Land
The GCZMA order states that the land must be returned to its original state, as it was before the restaurant was built. This action is part of a larger effort to make sure buildings are safe, follow laws, and protect the environment along Goa's coast.
