PANJIM: Opposition is mounting against the annual electronic dance music (EDM) festival, Sunburn at Vagator scheduled this month-end as businessmen and villagers are opposed to extending it to four days. The villagers have called meeting at Vagator beach at 5 pm on Saturday, December 2 to oppose any move to extend the Sunburn EDM to four days even as the
government departments have not decided yet on the permission to be granted to the organisers.
“Villagers don’t have any issue to hold Sunburn from December 28 to 30 but as per the advertisement of the organisers, they are looking to have it for four days. Having it on December31 will seriously cause chaos and major traffic congestion especially for many who will be attending midnight mass. We all as one will have to oppose and see that they don’t get permissions for 31st December,” said a villager.
The villagers said that if the organisers are accorded permission to hold the event on the day of year-end then it would create a chaotic scene in the coastal area.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that the government was yet to decide on permission to be given to the Sunburn organisers. However, sources in the department of tourism told
O Heraldo that a proposal has been received from the organisers to hold the event.
The sources said that since there is a government holiday during the next three days, a decision will be taken only after December 5.
Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo had voiced her opposition to the event being organised on December 31. “Anjuna locals have requested not to have Sunburn on December 31. It is okay if the event is held for three days. Will consult the Chief Minister and get the dates changed,” she said.
Attorney of Anjuna Comunidade, Seby D’Souza said that they have received an application from the organisers to hold the festival at Vagator. He said that the decision will be taken at the general body of the Comunidade convened on December 10.
D’Souza said that the Comunidade accepted the application only after confirming that the organisers has deposited the amount in the High Court.
The organisers have asked for the same land where the event is being organised for the last 10 years.
The land is more than one lakh square metres and the organisers have asked for four days.
One of the petitioners and Gaonkar Trevor Mascarenhas who had approached the Court, told O Heraldo that they will not allow the EDM festival until the organisers pay the balance Rs 36.95 lakh.
In September this year, the High Court had directed the Comunidade of Anjuna and the government not to consider granting approval for holding the EDM festival if the balance amount is not paid.
The report will be updated online once the version of Sun Burn organisers is received.
