TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Politicking has again picked up over the annual Sunburn music fest, as a day after Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said that he would not allow the event in Candolim.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo responded by saying that he would also not want the event in Candolim unless and until the government provided adequate infrastructure facilities to hold the annual mega event.
“Unless and until the government makes available facilities such as parking spaces and widens the roads leading to the Sunburn event venue, I will not allow this annual music fest in my constituency,” Lobo said Tuesday.
The Calangute MLA said that while he supported organisation of tourism related events in Goa such as Sunburn as it generates revenue for the State, he reiterated that such events cannot be permitted without proper arrangements being made as they cause inconvenience to the locals residing in the area.
He said traffic plans need to be worked out so that there is no congestion and vehicular movement is smooth, especially for emergency services that may be required for the sick and old residing in the area. Lobo pointed out that just as roads have been widened at Baga and Calangute, the same should be done at Candolim and there should be one way traffic arrangements to and from the Sunburn venue.
Lobo said that even the sound needs to be regulated as the high decibel sound from the event disturbs the residents.
“Last year there were a lot of complaints over the noise pollution from the event,” he said adding that in case the government decides to grant permission for Sunburn in Candolim that it would need to ensure that the sound decibels are monitored or the timings of the event should be changed from 5 pm to 10 pm instead of allowing it to commence from 12 noon to 10 pm.
Lobo said that he was not certain as to why his colleague Parulekar did not want the event in Candolim pointing out that no MLA wants Sunburn in their constituency leaving the organisers with the sole option of hosting the event in Candolim.
“But I will make noise louder that their sound decibels if the government allows it in Candolim without providing infrastructure, this time around,” he said.
Lobo also said that last year the government got over Rs 1 crore revenue from Sunburn “this cannot be done at the cost of the people or else some amount should be spent in return towards developing facilities needed there.”
Last year the tourism ministry granted permission to Sunburn virtually on the eve of the event after much uncertainty, as Parulekar had then also opposed the event in Candolim compelling the event organisers to make alternate plans in South Goa.
This year Sunburn organisers have applied for permissions from the single window State Level Committee. Sources in the tourism department were tight-lipped on the proposed venues.
Interestingly St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh’s views on Sunburn have also raised eyebrows, thereby now increasing the numbers of BJP MLAs with swords raised against Sunburn.
The Calangute MLA said that while he supported organisation of tourism related events in Goa such as Sunburn as it generates revenue, he reiterated that such events cannot be permitted without proper arrangements being made as they cause inconvenience to the locals residing in the area
