The organisers had expected that like every year they would be able to arm-twist the government in giving into their demands to hold the event from December 28-31. However, strong objections from locals as well as tourism stakeholders ensured that the permission was not granted for December 31. However, the issues concerning the EDM are far from over as the organisers are hopeful that the government will grant a relaxation in the timings and permit the event to play music upto midnight.
In the past, Sunburn has made it to the headlines every year for playing high decibel music late into the wee hours and creating nuisance for the locals, especially children and the elderly. After the event in December last year, while hearing a petition on the sound pollution, the High Court rapped the Goa government, especially the police and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for their failure to act against noise pollution during the Sunburn EDM festival.
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As the New Year’s eve approaches closer, the decibels of the music played along the coastal belt, especially the North Goa beaches, goes higher by every passing day and towards the end, every hour. The authorities concerned will now have to ensure that the law is enforced and those violating and disturbing the citizens are taken to task.
Another major issue that has had its grip on the coastal belt, and spikes during such mega events, is the abuse of drugs and narcotic substances. In the past, the EDMs have been accused of being rave party venues for youth from across the country and globally.
Citizens have begun expressing concern about the future of their children and the State. The spate of high profile drugs and narcotics cases has pushed the parents to a corner to acknowledge that the problem of addiction, within the peaceful and calm social setting of Goa, is a reality. That their children are exposed to narcotic substances and that if they have yet not tasted the kick and the illusionary world, then there are all the possibilities that they will experience it soon.
In 2016, the state of Punjab made it to international headlines with the release of the controversial film Udta Punjab (Flying Punjab). Though many at the time, criticised the negative portrayal of the agrarian state, but the fact is that drugs and narcotics substances were easily available in the villages of the green State. Punjab was amongst the highest per capita income States in India until 2002-03, but the gradual fall to 17th position only indicates that the system failed to ensure that the youth of the State progressed.
Parents, often out of the shame that the family has to face as an outcome of the taboo to addiction, suffer in silence and hush-up the problem. However discreet one may want to be about their child’s exposure to drug menace, the parents ought to understand that the only way to find a solution to any problem is to first acknowledge the problem in its entirety and seek help.
Secondly, due to economic slowdown, many are turning to earning easy money and secondary sources of income. With unemployment rate breaking the records, it’s time for the authorities to lay out policies enabling the underemployed and unemployed make a dignified living for themselves.
De-addicting Goa needs the unison of forces – social, political, economic and academic. The society needs to wake up to the alarms and shun the notion of taboo attached to addiction and ensure a social uprising leading to a political will, to come down heavily on the drug mafia.
The ‘dum-maro-dum’ and ‘sab kuch chalta hai’ portrayal of Goa has to be replaced with a well governed State that honours law abiding citizens in making the place merrier.
The tourism sector has been suffering for far too long. Behind the glittering curtains that the State promotes through events organised by the government or private music festivals, are the unattended issues which have been pushed around from one minister to another in the last decade. It is no secret that Goa’s image as a safe tourist destination has taken a beating in the recent past with increasing media attention at some of the serious crimes including rapes, murder, extortion, etc, in addition to the reckless driving and fatal accidents.
On the other hand, the illegalities within the industry are a stumbling block for the State to ensure better performance of all the stakeholders.
Goa needs a comprehensive policy to enable coordinated effort between the stakeholders as well as the different government departments to ensure sustainable tourism for the decades to come.
