Team Herald
Panjim: The Sunburn EDM Festival has issued a clarification against disinformation being spread by certain individuals, including some constituents of the Comunidade of Anjuna. According to the festival organisers, these individuals have acted against the interests of the Comunidade of Anjuna, negatively impacted tourism in Anjuna and Vagator villages, and generally attempted to sabotage tourism activities in Goa.
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The clarification issued has come in response to a post on the social media site X, which read: ‘@GovtofGoa seeks time in Supreme Court case – @SunburnFestival non payment of fees to #Anjuna Comunidade adjourned to December 11. Festival on the rocks unless Hari realises mistake and decides to bend or crawl away from #Vagator. #PEOPLEPOWER!’
According to the clarification, the festival has traditionally been hosted on barren land owned by the Comunidade of Anjuna. “The venue was temporarily utilised following the guidelines set by the Government of Goa in 2021 for the temporary use of Comunidade land dated December 15, 2021. The rent/value of this barren land according to the Government’s ready reckoner is only Rs 5-6 lakh,” it stated.
According to the statement: “In 2022, the Comunidade of Anjuna decided to charge Rs 75 lakh for the use of the land. This was earlier Rs 18 lakh for 2019. The Administrator revised it to Rs 31.7 lakh. Certain members of the Comunidade of Anjuna challenged the rent determined by the Administrator of Comunidade and the Government of Goa, leading to litigation (Writ Petition No. 347 of 2023). The Court of Bombay at Goa ruled that the General Body of the Comunidade could independently set rent rates. This judgment is currently under appeal before the Supreme Court of India in Special Leave Petition No. 24359 of 2023, which is scheduled for final hearing on December 11, 2024.”
“In 2023, the Comunidade further decided to charge Rs 2.43 crore as rent for the same land, the value of which was Rs 5-6 lakh only. This is again being challenged in the Supreme Court and next hearing is scheduled to be held on December 11, 2024,” added the clarification note.
“For the Sunburn 2023 Festival, Sunburn paid ₹3,52,56,180 in total as Rent, Derrama, Director of Civil Administration and security deposit, as per directives. These exorbitant rents rendered the event commercially unviable,” the statement further clarified.
According to the clarification, attempts to amicably resolve disputes over commercially viable rents were unsuccessful due to the rigid stance of certain individuals within the Comunidade of Anjuna and consequently, the Sunburn 2024 Festival has been relocated to Dhargalim Village in Pernem Taluka.
“This relocation has caused significant discontent among Anjuna’s stakeholders, including hotels, restaurants, and ancillary businesses, who have suffered economic losses due to the absence of the festival. The vested interests of a few individuals have not only deprived the Comunidade of Anjuna of fair rental income but also negatively impacted the tourism-dependent economy of Anjuna village,” the clarification noted.
According to the statement that was issued, Sunburn is Asia’s premier Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival, and over the years it has significantly contributed to Goa’s economy, “with an average direct revenue contribution of Rs 8-10 crore and substantial indirect revenues benefiting the state’s tourism, hospitality and travel industries exceeding Rs 500 crore annually”.
