Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has granted in-principal approval to Sunburn Klassique, scheduled to be held at Vagator this year-end.
Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said the event will be held at Vagator even as the govt is in the process of recovering the pending dues from Percept Live Pvt Ltd, which has collaborated with a Goan company to organize the festival. The govt had received a proposal for holding Sunburn Klassique at Sunburn festival’s original venue from December 27-29, 2019.
The firms, in a joint venture had earlier hosted the event on February 23-24, 2019 at Vagator, which was largely attended. Ajgaonkar had earlier stated that Goa needs EDMs as it boosts arrivals in the coastal State.
An official representing the Mumbai-based company in a press statement issued in July had stated that at the time of the main event – Sunburn’s exit from Goa in 2016, its direct contribution to Goa economy stood at close to Rs 700 crores and this year if granted permission, its contribution might touch Rs 1,000 crore.
Interestingly, the minister during a reply in the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly had said that government has not granted any permission for holding EDMs this year. No permissions has been issued to EDM Festivals in the State in the Financial Year 2019-20,” he had said quoting an amount of Rs 71.17 lakhs due from Sunburn organizers to be paid to the police department towards holding event during the year 2015-16.
