MORJIM: Following protests that led to the postponement of the controversial Lantern Festival planned at the eco-sensitive Morjim beach, environmentalists have now started a signature campaign demanding its permanent cancellation, while pointing out that the beach is a prime nesting site for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles.
The festival, originally scheduled for May 25 by event organisers Amusant Events in partnership with hotel Goafornia, involved releasing thousands of lit lanterns into the sky over the beach. However, it faced widespread opposition from citizens and wildlife activists who warned of the grave threat it posed to the nesting turtles and other endangered species like dolphins and birds in the area.
Despite initial assurances from local authorities that the event would not proceed, the organisers had only postponed it citing early monsoon. This prompted activists to launch a petition titled ‘Save Morjim: Stop the Lantern Festival’ demanding its outright cancellation and a ban on such events near eco-sensitive zones.
Within days, the petition has garnered over a large number of signatures from concerned citizens across Goa and the country.
Signatories have also been fervently emailing authorities urging them to put an end to the festival plans.
“Goafornia, the venue partner for the lantern festival, cancelled the event and the event organisers Amusant events has postponed the event citing the early arrival of the monsoon. They have also said that new dates for this event will be announced shortly. Our demands are to cancel the lantern festival and that there be a ban imposed on the use of lanterns near eco sensitive zones like the coast and forests,” read the petition.
“Morjim beach is home to many species of marine and terrestrial plants and animals. It is especially known for the nesting Olive Ridley turtles whose eggs are still hatching, putting thousands of baby sea turtles at risk of entanglement and strangulation,” the petition added
Recalling how the protests so far had created enough pressure for the Deputy Collector of Pernem and the Morjim Sarpanch to give an assurance to citizens that the event will not happen, the campaigners pointed out that the event organisers are yet to put out a cancellation statement. “It is imperative that this event is cancelled with immediate effect and all measures are taken to prevent any such events in the future,” they concluded.
