Team Herald
PANJIM: Villagers from Camurlim expressed their strong opposition to the Sunburn EDM festival during a press conference on Sunday.
Former Camurlim Sarpanch Sharad Gad stated, "Our village is known for its natural beauty. This is not the time for politics; we have come together for a common purpose—to oppose Sunburn. If we are to protect our culture, we must resist events like this." He added, "It is widely recognized that Sunburn attracts both consumers and suppliers of drugs. To protest against it, all villages should unite and set aside their egos. Such events will not benefit tourism. If Camurlim is to be protected, we must stand against Sunburn. When the festival is held in Vagator, it takes two hours to reach Anjuna from Mapusa. Imagine the chaos if the event were to take place in Camurlim, where there is not even enough space to make the roads one-way."
Gad further lamented the destruction of local hills due to ongoing mega projects in various parts of the state. "If the government aims to promote tourism, it should explore opportunities in coastal areas instead of compromising villages like Camurlim, which are rich in natural greenery," he remarked. The villagers convened in light of the Camurlim comunidade receiving a formal request from festival promoters to host the event in their village.