VIBHA VERMA
The annual Grape Escapade wine-cum-entertainment festival was dragged in a fresh controversy for not obtaining the mandatory Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) permission, hours before its launch at the D B Bandodkar ground on April 27.
Notwithstanding the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order directing the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to ‘enforce the effect of revocation of the permission granted to the festival till the GCZMA takes appropriate decision;’ the government went ahead with the four-day-long event.
The entire chaos has given rise to a crucial question whether government should go in for a blanket permission on an annual basis to host events at venues, which are close to the shoreline – falling under the CRZ areas — considering that this is not the first time the government-hosted event faced a threat of closure.
It was earlier in 2015 and then again in 2016, the wine event was embroiled in a controversy over CRZ permission and for holding the event on Republic, January 26. On both the occasions, NGT had slammed the Government. While the event went as per schedule in 2015, the government reduced the festival to three days in the following year.
The year 2016 also saw the first time introduced – Serependity, the Art festival — facing similar crisis, when the Tribunal issued notices to State government over violation of CRZ guidelines. The organisers had to then move to GCZMA for permission.
Likewise, many other commercial events, which are hosted by private players at the same venue, seek CRZ permission. It has also been revealed that the government-hosted annual festival – Lokotsav, which is held at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, also applies for the required permission.
As the recent controversy made headlines, organisers of Grape Escapade, GTDC has written to the Directorate of Sports to apply to authorities concerned seeking ‘blanket permission’ for holding events at the Sports ground. However, the Sports authorities have questioned the wisdom of GTDC for putting forth the suggestion citing that Campal ground is a venue not only for government events but private individuals/organisers too.
“We have written to Sports department seeking blanket permission for holding events at the grounds owned by them,” GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral said.
However, Sports director V M Prabhudessai has refused having received any such letter as he even ruled out going for blanket permission. “Why does the sports department have to go for blanket permission? Let the organisers seek whatever permission they require. Though it is a sports ground, for past few years, no sports events have taken place. It is open ground now used for parking, public rallies, exhibitions, events like IFFI and wine festival,” he explained.
The director argued that why should sports department face the wrath of the authorities or the court, for any possible violations by the respective event organisers.
While the authorities slammed petitioner Kashinath Shetye for ‘misguiding the court,’ the latter shot back at the government questioning if the permission was not required, why did it move the GCZMA seeking approval on earlier occasions.
“He (petitioner) is misguiding the NGT and wasting the court as well as government’s time. He has clearly mentioned that wine festival is being held in the area falling in CRZ-II. The CRZ definition is clearly mentioned in the 2011 notification. Either he is not conversant with the CRZ-II or is trying to waste the time of the court and the government,” GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral said.
Earlier, the GCZMA and GTDC in their submission before the Tribunal had said that ‘no permission is required for organising any festival under CRZ notification, 2011 in CRZ II area and therefore, there is no violation of undertaking given by GTDC.’
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has also come down heavily on the NGOs or social activists who attempt to stall the events for unnecessary reasons. “Grape Escapade has been going on for years. Such elements only misguide the court,” TTAG President Savio Messias said.
