While we are in the midst of intense scrutiny and a proclaimed crackdown on the drug scene in Goa, with a close watch on venues which host EDM parties, the Tourism Department is busy finalising two EDM festivals in the peak period of the week 4 of December. And of the two, one happens to be the re-entry of the Sunburn festival, which moved out of Goa, because they had massive outstanding dues and they were ostensibly in conflict with the Government’s decision not to pack EDM festivals in the period between Christmas and New Year.
Therefore the decision to get EDMs back in Goa is surprising, when the goalposts have not really changed and the same concerns that existed at the time of Sunburn and Supersonic, the twin EDM festivals, moving out, do exist. The State Level Permissions Committee, which looks in to the efficacy of such festivals is seriously considering a proposal of Ayush Mehta of Sudarshan Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Ahmedabad, to hold an EDM festival in survey number 206/1 at Vagator, opposite Hilltop in Anjuna. It appears, as we have reported, an in principal clearance has already been given. Significantly, the organisers of this festival, named the “Time Out 72 Music Festival” have chosen a spot which is in the same locale where the Sunburn and Supersonic festivals were held and on exactly the same dates, December 28 and 29.
So the big ask is, what has changed. Absolutely nothing.
Without immediately getting into the linkages, between the kind of music played at EDM festivals and drugs, any decision on allowing EDMs again should be a matter of well discussed policy and not as a result of ad hoc meetings and negotiations. Now it seems that the only roadblock between the Sunburn coming back to Goa or not appears to be their existing dues. Sunburn and Viacom 18’s Supersonic – both of which shifted to Pune last year, owe the government a Rs 6.82 crore approximately. Sunburn have an outstanding amount of Rs 1.75 crore to the Police Department and a little over Rs 2 crore to the Commercial Taxes Department.
The future of EDMs in Goa cannot be dependent on outstanding dues of one company, but on what is laid down in the overall tourism policy of Goa, which itself needs to be framed and circulated among all stake holders and constructive feedback, which can be mapped, taken. It is this policy which should determine decisions not ad hoc meetings. If the proposal fits into the agreed policy, permissions should be given or else not.
The policy should determine the area in terms of the quantum of land to be allotted and the overall locale, from the security, traffic and parking point of view. Currently the government has no policy on each of these. Secondly, the linkage of drugs to EDM festivals is obvious and the policy must address this. The previous EDMs were held under set of conditions, but, Isha Mantry, the 27-year-old designer, did die due to suspected drug overdose.
Each festival should not just be a declared a drug free zone but there have to be systems in place to ensure this. This could be through more rigorous frisking and other forms of high end surveillance, which is used in top international airports, saturation coverage through CCTV cameras with a state of the art control room to send information to respond to threats and incidents in real time, and most importantly the facility to do random checks on those suspected of consuming drugs.
The decision to give permissions to EDM festivals should therefore be put on hold till the government finalises a tourism and events policy. The government, all stakeholders and the people of Goa owe it to themselves to ensure that we get this right. Tourism, in Goa, is not just an issue of profit but it’s the DNA of this fast eroding paradise.
There is an irony in this statement of the tourism minister who says “Dance and music is a part of Goa’s sanskriti and is a way to flourish the tourism industry. However, any form of indecency, drug-related activities and violation of Supreme Court and High Court orders on holding such mega events, and hurting Goenkarponn will not be tolerated. Goa’s culture should be maintained.”
The irony lies in the fact that EDMs haven’t really been a part of Goa’s sanskriti and forms of indecency, drug-related activities and violation of Supreme Court and High Court orders on holding such mega events have been allowed in several EDM related parties, even if not specifically related to Sunburn and Supersonic
Therefore the way forward should be less of rhetoric and hyperbole and all about laid down and agreed policy. It is only a good system which can have substance.
