Undoubtedly, the two Electronic Dance Music festivals give Goa tourism the much needed numbers of tourist footfalls which go on to boost the overall tourist numbers, giving a completely lopsided sense of real tourist arrivals in Goa. However inspite of then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s cryptic note in 2013, asking for a relook at Sunburn (it was the only one held then) and examine complaints like drugs being sold, massive traffic congestion and law and order, the festivals have gone on unhindered. While admittedly there is nothing to prove beyond doubt that the festivals have contributed to the ills they are accused of, electronic festivals the world over, come with their baggage or a ready mix (call it what you will) of a vibe which can be fathomed only by those who partake in the music and the fun madness.
However what the locals who live in those parts are concerned about – and very rightly so – is the fact that their spaces get completely crowded. They lose their streets, footpaths, their evening walk spaces. They also sense that elements like drug pushers – who are no way connected to or facilitated by the festival organizers – naturally flock to these venues in the hope of getting customers outside of them.
Chief Minister Parsekar said on Saturday “I called both the organisers (Sunburn’s Percept Ltd and Supersonic’s Viacom 18) and told them that this will not be tolerated. The dates of both the events should not clash and be conducted before December 15 or after January 15, from the next year”. His words, though, ring hollow for the following reasons. The elections to the Goa assembly will be held exactly at the same time or a little after, in end 2016, beginning 2017. In any case permissions for the festivals would not have been given in December 2016 or January 2017. In the middle of the election fever, the ruling government will be better off not having an EDM controversy.
Secondly the CM’s remarks on Saturday makes it seem that the Government of Goa has been forced to give a go ahead to these festivals and is a reluctant partner in the EDM festivities. That is far from reality. The Goa Tourism has officially entered into a strategic partnership with one of the festivals, Sunburn, with which the department has had a close relationship with, making it a participatory stakeholder in this EDM and not a neutral bystander. With his own Tourism department as a “partner” the CM loses the right to say “this will not be tolerated”.
There is surely a more organised way to do this. The new dates, pre December 15 and post January 15 should be inked into an agreement which is legally enforceable. More importantly, the government must chose alternate venues and move one of the EDM’s to South Goa.
And finally, there needs to be holistic cost benefit analysis of these festivals, which if positive, can be used to pitch for the festivals and if negative, can be used for positive course correction. Let the music play without the cacophony of controversy.
