Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
The question now arises when the Chief Minister of the State says there would not be any festival if people do not want, how do the organisers continue to sell tickets for that day?
The question also arises whether those sitting at the helm of affairs have some internal arrangements with the organisers which is why they are showing scant respect to the law?
When the Anjuna panchayat has been opposing the permission for festival, with whose blessings are the organisers going ahead selling tickets?
While the layman in Goa has to run from pillar to post for a small function or wedding permission, the high and mighty like the Sunburn get all the permissions like noise pollution, air pollution etc on the platter. Why?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte have made it clear that the Sunburn EDM Festival, held every year from December 28-30, will not be extended to December 31.
Yet, the orgnaisers continue to sell the tickets for the festival on December 31, showing scant respect to the law and challenging the authorities.
Not only this, the the organisers so far have no permissions from the government for the event so far but despite that they have gone ahead with all preparations, arrangements and dsale of tickets.
The villagers of Anjuna and other coastal areas are up in arms with news that the Sunburn festival would be extended by another day to December 31st. They said they had no issues with the festival but on 31st that is huge crowd in Goa to celebrate the New Year and with the Sunburn underway, other businesses would be hit.
Is Sunburn above law?
The question now arises when the Chief Minister of the State says there would not be any festival if people do not want, how do the organisers continue to sell tickets for that day?
The question also arises whether those sitting at the helm of affairs have some internal arrangements with the organisers which is why they are showing scant respect to the law?
When the Anjuna panchayat has been opposing the permission for festival, with whose blessings are the organisers going ahead selling tickets?
While the layman in Goa has to run from pillar to post for a small function or wedding permission, the high and mighty like the Sunburn get all the permissions like noise pollution, air pollution etc on the platter. Why?
Is Goa only dependent on Sunburn for tourists?
With so much hype surrounding the Sunburn festival, one opines whether Goa, known as one of the most popular tourist destination in the world, is only dependent on festival like Sunburn to get tourists in the State.
If that is so, whatever initiative like international road shows and travel marts organised by the Tourism Department, spending crores of rupees is just a waste of money. Isn’t it.
The fact is Goa was and is the place to welcome the New Year and whether or not Sunburn is held, Goa will continue to get tourists for the year-ending week.
The festivals like Sunburn are here to mint money and also make some politicians rich.
Promoting drugs culture?
A Goa-based right-wing organisation has called for a ban on the annual electronic dance music (EDM) festival, Sunburn, in Goa, claiming that the festival promotes “drug culture”.
Not only this, a delegation of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector, North Goa on Thursday, appealing for a ban on the festival, scheduled to be held at the Vagator beach from December 28 to 31.
“The organisers have recently announced that ‘Sunburn 2023’ will be held in Goa at Vagator beach like every year. Due to the festival, Goa’s civility is deteriorating. Such festivals are destroying the youth by promoting drug culture,” the memorandum said.
If this is so, why are the authorities not launching any probe in the matter. For years we have seen several drug-overdose deaths during the year-ending week but sadly, no government has made any efforts to investigate the matter.
