As Maha govt. issues SOPs for NYE, illegal beach shacks pop up for bash

Although the government has restricted New Years Eve events amid the COVID19 pandemic a beach party is being organised at Navapur in Virar West on December 31 Organisers are promising live music food fireworks stay in tents and a dance floor 6 pm onwards Hoteliers claim that the beach shacks are illegal and eating into their legitimate businesses Local officials told midday that no permissions have been given for any beach event while the police said they will look into the matter Posing as a customer midday spoke to Nikhil Porwal one of the four organisers of the event Porwal said the party will go on till 2 am on January 1 2021 Details of the beach parties have been put up on Instagram We have secured relevant permissions from authorities in writing said PorwalPorwal added We have been organising parties since December 4 at Navapur beach and so far we have not faced crackdownsWhen asked about a police crackdown at night Porwal said I assure you of this sort police crackdowns at night sir nothing will happenA group of four organisers has named the place Nirvana beach camp and provided contact details for bookings for New Year Camping on InstagramNirvana beach camp has put up tents to sleep inWe are charging R2500 per head Couples need to pay Rs 4500 For a group of 10 people and more the fee is Rs 2200 per head Entry for children aged till five years is free Porwal told midday on phoneSnacks will be served immediately after you arrive at the camp Liquor will not be served you need to bring your own liquor Breakfast has been arranged ahead of checkout in the morning Porwal said Those arriving from faroff places and unable to bring liquor will have to inform the organisers a day in advance to get it at the time of checkinOrganisers claim they have secured permission to have 50 guestsPorwal added We developed this property for our close friends to party at but later we commercialised it due to high demand People from Mumbai and Thane looking for party venues are welcome for New Year Strict rules and regulations are being followedPorwal said that Navapur beach falls under the gram panchayat whose rules are slightly relaxed Loud music will be reduced slightly after 930 pm Singer Jimmy Khumar and his team will be performing live till 2 amAfter the party guests will be assigned tents to sleep in Toilets and bathrooms are completely hygienic said Porwal adding Initially we planned a gettogether for 150 people but permissions were given only for 50 So early bookings have started and people from Mumbai and Thane have made advance payments onlineDidnt give permissionTehsildar Ujjwala Bhagat however told midday We have not given permission to anyone to organise New Years party at the beach There will be strict action against anyone oragnising such partiesThe Vasai Taluka Hotel Association told midday that illegal shacks have mushroomed at Rajodi Navapur Arnala and Kalam beaches They have been operating without permissions All this is done with the knowledge of Arnala Sagari police station We have been facing great losses We pay huge licence fees GST VAT and income tax even as such illegal shacks cause losses for us said Nagraj Shetty of the associationThere are 3035 illegal shacks in Virar We have submitted a written complaint to Arnala Sagari police station multiple times but cops have not conducted any raids added Shetty who is mulling approaching the commissioner of police of Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar Sadanand DateVarious hoteliers from Virar said they have been told by police to strictly adhere to timings But why do they fail to act against illegal shacks holding New Years Eve parties the hoteliers askedZonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Kumar Patil said I am not aware of these illegal shacks I will personally visit and take action No parties are allowed amid the pandemic People are advised to follow the rules Anyone found flouting them will face actionActivist Sameer Vartak said most of the cottages and resorts on the coast from Vasai to Virar are illegal How can one organise a party amid strict government restrictions in the pandemic The police and revenue officials have encouraged these locals to indulge in malpractices as they get their share Vartak saidI managed to secure an order to demolish illegal resorts along the coast at Rajodi Arnala and Navapur but the police and revenue department officials failed to crack down on illegal activitiesIs it possible that neither is aware of such shacks It is only possible when they all work handinglove to mint money he said6 PMCheckin time at the beach camp2 AMTime till when the party will go on8 AMApprox checkout time from the beach party