TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM:  As is the case with mega festivals which are able to bulldoze their way each year, Sunburn at Candolim and Oranjuice at Cavelossim will happen between December 27-29 and December 29-30 respectively.

There is doubt over the third festival “Windsong” happening at Baga, on December 24 even though it has got the nod, since organisers may be unable to get licences from several departments over the weekend.

The State level Permission Committee on Friday finally granted conditional approvals, to the three year-end festivals scheduled between December 24 and 31. 

The conditions include ban on drugs at the venues, prevention of sound pollution, smoking ban, ensuring safety and security, law and order, proper parking arrangements, garbage collection, procurement of all licenses from excise and others by organisers.

While the tourism ministry has issued a list of more than 20 conditions to the organisers, the ministry also received directions from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to ensure that all guidelines pertaining to protection of the coast and environment are followed.

It is learnt that GCZMA stepped in after a High Court petition was disposed off in the matter challenging the conduct of the tourism related events along Goa’s coastline in CRZ III. “The GCZMA has written to the tourism ministry Friday evening issuing directions to follow its guidelines and to comply the High Court rulings,” said a member of the permissions committee.

The guidelines issued by GCZMA state that the tourism ministry should ensures that there is no destruction of sand dunes,  cleaning of area within 24 hours of conclusion of the events and no permanent cement groutings. GCZMA communiqué states that the tourism ministry could approve the events subject to adherence to the guidelines.

A member of the committee disclosed that while permissions have been given in principle, they have been forwarded to the  tourism  minister Dilip Parulekar (who had said that Sunburn would not be allowed to be held in North Goa), and to chief minister Manohar Parrikar for final approval. 

The committee has also said that in case of any violation of the rules and regulations, that the security deposit furnished at the time of obtaining the event licence will be forfeited.