Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Forest and Tourism Departments have made it clear that they did not approve of the lantern festival that was scheduled to take place at Morjim Beach, a state-designated turtle nesting site after environmental activists expressed concerns about it the day before.
Tickets for the May 25 private festival, dubbed “GLOWFEST,” are already available online. The event’s organizers disclosed that live music, dance performances, and other activities will be included in addition to the lantern lighting ceremony. Though the event’s organizers have not yet confirmed, there have been rumours that it would be cancelled.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Prem Kumar claimed that the impending event would be illegal because the Forest Department runs a turtle hatchery at Morjim Beach in a formal letter to the Environment Secretary.
Olive Ridley turtles use the entire stretch of Morjim Beach as a nesting site. According to him, holding the festival would be against the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority’s rules.
The officer also mentioned that official letters were sent to the Morjim Police Inspector and the Member Secretary of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority regarding this matter from the office of the Range Forest Officer, Marine Range, Wildlife, and Eco-tourism (North), Goa.
Additionally, Kumar asked the relevant authorities to step in “to maintain the sanctity of the turtle hatchery and nesting sites at Morjim Beach.”
Suneel Anchipaka, director of tourism, reaffirmed that the festival was not authorized by the tourism department. The Lantern Festival does not have permission. In addition, he stated in response to questions from the media on Thursday, “If the event poses a threat to the environment, it certainly will not be permitted.”
