PANJIM: The government finds itself in a tight spot over the growing rift between the organizers of Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival and Goa police, ahead of the four-day event at Vagator on December 27. However, this has become an annual routine where positions are tightened, and the government and the organisers kiss and make up, and all decks are cleared, with hours to go for the first set of music to be played.
The police establishment is adamant on not granting the festival permission until Percept Ltd, the organizers, make the Rs 1 crore payment pending since December 2014. Sources reveal that several discussions between the police the Percept have turned futile. The meeting of the single window committee next month offers the last hope of any resolution. This does not include the more meaningful and effective backchannel negotiations that ultimately open many hard to open locked doors.
Extensive security and traffic arrangements in and around the venues of the two electronic music festivals – Sunburn and Supersonic – and simultaneously across the State for the New Year celebrations is a tough task for the police.
Grappling with staff shortage to carry out multiple tasks during the peak season, sources said, the State borrows additional security force from the neighbouring states. “For the Sunburn fest last year, the State roped in security personnel from Maharashtra and other regions. All the expenses were borne by Goa Police and post-event, the bill was forwarded to the organizers for payment,” an official said wishing anonymity.
However, the organizers refused to pay the full amount arguing that the billing was unjustified. “During a series of meetings held since then, Percept Ltd alleged that the Police department intentionally and wrongly prepared the bill which was obviously denied by the police higher-ups,” a Secretariat official said.
With no payment made till date, Goa Police has decided to deny the festival permission this year. Sources said the government has refused to intervene in the matter and has asked both parties to resolve the issue.
The committee, chaired by Chief Secretary R K Srivastava is scheduled to meet on December 8 to decide on granting license to the organisers of the two EDMs. The committee members are certain to raise the ongoing crisis besides overlapping of the event dates of the two festivals.
