Team Herald
PANJIM: Two Panjim residents have moved the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking its intervention in the upcoming Narkasur effigy competitions. Advocate Rui Ferreira and Sanjay Sarmalkar have appealed against granting permission/allowing holding of the Narkasura effigy competition parade on the roads in front of Mahalaxmi Temple and Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim respectively on the eve of Diwali.
The petitioners have cited congestion of roads and inconvenience to the people, particularly children and senior citizens, in view of loud sound post 10 pm, which is also in violation of the law.
“Besides generating accumulation of non bio-degradable garbage in the form of empty packets of chips, biscuits and ice-cream and waste from the firecrackers, the Narkasura competition prohibits the free movement of fire brigade, ambulances and other vehicles for essential services to the residents of the area as well as to the respective religious institution,” the petition submitted to the High Court Registrar states.
The persons have alleged that the bodies/clubs holding the competitions are not recognised or registered at any statutory authority.
Apprehending terror incidents, like the 2009 Diwali eve blasts at Margao, as the event is held near religious institutions, the petitioners alleged that people are affected and sought to understand the plight of the old, sick and children/infants. “The situation is so bad that many residents have to leave the area to stay with relatives, but the rest have to suffer the auditory battering which may lead the old and the infants to permanent disability of becoming deaf,” they said citing past incidents.
