Team Herald
PANJIM: After openly supporting Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals like Sunburn in the State, Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar on Monday said he does not favour Sunburn but would opt for a folk dance and music festival to attract tourists.
The government is also working on a special State law, to mark some places as music zones thereby exempting them from the Madhya Pradesh Control of Music and Noises Act, which is currently implemented in the State.
The Tourism Minister on Monday met several coastal MLAs, who were in sync with the government idea of promoting dance music festivals in the State. From Goa Forward Party Minister Jayesh Salgaocar to Congress MLA Dayanand Sopte, all extended their support to the idea.
“Why do you only talk about Sunburn when we speak of EDM? Is it only EDM? We have classical music, drama music, folklore; there are so many EDM festivals that we can think about,” Azgaonkar told media persons after chairing a high level meeting of the representatives for setting up infrastructure in the tourism belt.
“We need music to attract tourists. If you want to promote tourism then you need music and EDM. We need music, which will take our culture ahead. We don’t need drugs to be part of the festivals,” he said adding that the government is committed to zero tolerance to drugs in the State.
The Minister said the government has already initiated the process to recover the pending dues from the Sunburn EDM organisers. “There is no proposal before us from the Sunburn organisers and we have not granted them any permission,” he clarified.
Goa was hosting the Sunburn and Supersonic EDM festivals in December along the north coastal belt, which were stopped last year.
WRD Minister Vinod Palyekar was unable to attend as his brother was admitted to GMC. Palyekar’s office confirmed that the minister was with his brother, as the latter is in a critical condition.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman Nilesh Cabral, who was present at the meeting, said the government is contemplating the possibility of creating special zones where music can be played till late in the night.
“We are trying to create zones for extension of timings to play music till late night. Right now we are governed under the Madhya Pradesh Control of Music and Noises Act,” he said. “This sound act is a parliamentary decision, we are going to formulate an act in the State. We will pass it and send it to the Centre. Hopefully we will pass it in the next assembly,” Cabral said.
Earlier speaking about EDMs, Salgocar said the State needs music festivals like EDMs to attract tourists, but Goans should be given scope to organise such events. “Goa being a tourism destination, music festivals should happen. This helps in revenue generation for State and business for locals during that period,” he said after the meeting.
“We support EDMs but feel that Goan clubs should be given preference to have such music festivals. We have so many such clubs like TITO’s…SINQ…who should be allowed to have such festivals. Why do we need outsiders?” the Minister said.
Asked about his party colleague and cabinet Minister Vinod Palyekar’s objection to EDMs, Salgaocar said “He (Palyekar) is not against EDMs but against the illegal activities like drugs that are taking place at the venue”.
Congress Mandrem MLA Dayanand said too extended support to EDM festivals, but cautioned the government on the issue of drugs. “Why just one… four EDMs or music festivals can take place. I am not against it but government will have to make sure that they are drugs free,” he said.
