Team Herald
PANJIM: In the wake of criticism for the four-fold increase of fees for providing police bandobast during the Sunburn electronic dance music (EDM) festival, Goa Police has said the tariff depends on the vulnerability and the time of the event.
Percept Live, which is to pay Rs 1.93 crore to the Goa Police for the security from 2012 to 2016, had expressed disappointment over the increase in fees. The organisers had been paying police bandobast charges of approx Rs 20 lakh till 2012.
The department has claimed that fees are charged based on the security audit of an event. The north district had provided security for events like Sunburn, Supersonic and Time Out 72.
“The Sunburn organisers are yet to pay around Rs 1.93 crore to Goa Police. We are in touch with Tourism Department through several letters over the refund. We take into account various factors while providing security such as the kind of event, vulnerability of the place, mapping of the area and footfalls the EDM expects to attract,” Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Chandan Chaudhary told Herald.
Top police officers claim that it wasn’t a deliberate attempt to hike the security fees and elaborate arrangements to thwart possible security threat, including a stampede, was a must. “The State received huge footfalls during the time of the EDM and considering the magnitude of the event, comprehensive police protection had to be carried out,” the officer said.
After nearly a decade, the State will have no EDM this December with organizers blaming unfavorable government policies and an irrational increase in security charges. Percept, that has always expressed its desire to come back to Goa, has refused to pay 25 percent tax levied on complimentary tickets and the four-fold increase of bandobast fees. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messias has come in its support stating, “The rates were increased after the event which was not budgeted by the organisers.”
The other organisers have also alleged that the Police Department went on to demand a high number of free passes, and allegedly sold these at discounted rates. “They misused their presence at the venue by doing this business,” said one, requesting anonymity as the event firm has all its matter settled with the government. The Police Department has rubbished the allegations.
A senior spokesperson of Percept Live, speaking to Herald sought to know whether the police were providing security service for a fee for a private event or doing their job of maintaining law and order. “In either case, they succeeded in driving away the EDM festivals from the State.
Interesting to note that such events happen all over the country and the world and nowhere do the organisers face such abuse,” he said.
TTAG has also objected to the entertainment tax levied on complementary passes. “Why should there be a tax on free passes distributed for favours or out of obligation of contract? In Goa, some authorities demanding free passes for mega events have become a regular feature. Unfortunately, it has become an incentive for the government to give permission for any event,” Messias said.
