Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst COVID-19 scare, the Goa government has granted in-principle approval to the organisers of Sunburn- Percept Live- for holding Electronic Dance Music Festival (EDM) in December. Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that Sunburn 2020 will help to revive the tourism industry, which is hit hard due to current pandemic.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The State government has entrusted Home Department to ensure “drug-free” EDM event. Sunburn organisers on Sunday announced that the three-day long popular festival, considered to be the biggest dance and music event in Asia, will be back with a limited capacity at Vagator Beach between December 27-29.
The moves comes even as State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has warned of possible “second wave” of COVID-19 in Goa in November- December.
“Presenting Sunburn Goa 2020 in a completely new avatar. A new beginning,” the organisers said announcing that the early bird ticket will go live on November 4.
The annual event is attended by over a lakh of people daily .
Speaking to Herald, Ajgaonkar said that in-principle approval has been granted to the EDM festival with a condition that they have to follow all the COVID health protocols laid down by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and clearing of pending dues.
“Sunburn will help us to revive the tourism sector. Tourism is hit badly due to COVID. Almost every business is under loss. At a time, when mining industry is also shut, it is our duty to ensure tourism sector revives. The permission is been granted in State interest,” the Minister said.
Ajgaonkar said, “Music has been the culture of Goa and we have to make every effort to promote it. MHA guidelines like social distancing and wearing of masks will have to be strictly followed. Any violation, will force us to stop the event at that very moment,” he said.
The Minister informed that the final decision will be taken by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, when the file goes to him.
He also said that necessary directions will be issued to Home Department to ensure that the event is “drug-free” and MHA guidelines are followed.
The organizers have said that the event would be held with limited capacity, social distancing, compulsion of Aarogya Setu App, thermal scanning and contactless entry.
The State has been reporting 200-250 cases daily since last few weeks. Though the number of new cases is on decline, the mortality count has continued to soar with over 600 deaths so far. The total COVID-19 cases are over 43,000.
