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.
The police brass 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 with the meeting
of the single window committee next month the only hope left.
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Extensive security and traffic
arrangement in and around the Sunburn and Supersonic event venues, 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 districts. “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.
EDM fees touched Rs 7 crore last
year
Besides depositing a refundable
fee of Rs 1 crore each, with the State government, the two EDMs’ total fees
touch nearly Rs 7 crore, with Sunburn organizers the highest tax payer. The
government expects a similar collection this year too.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar
revealed that Percept Ltd paid Rs 5 crore to the government while Viacom 18 shelled out Rs 2 crore, last year.
“Of the total amount paid, Rs 1 crore each was refunded to the organizers
post-event. We expect almost the same earning this year as well,” Parulekar
told Herald.
The total amount, however, does not include
charges to other concerning authorities like the Rs 1 crore pending to the Police
department. Moreover, the excise department charges the event organizers Rs 6 lakh
depending on the number of guests at the venue.
Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza explained
that parties with more than 5001 persons at which alcohol is served have to
compulsorily pay the department Rs 6 lakh for six points (stalls). Rs 1 lakh is
charged for every extra stall.
