TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: On the day the Grape Escapade wine festival opened on Friday, the National Green Tribunal directed the Goa government not to allow the event on Republic Day, claiming it is being declared a dry day. A notice has been issued to the organizers returnable on February 11.
Responding to the order, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation has maintained it will go-ahead with the event without liquor.
A statement released by GTDC said, “GTDC is yet to formally receive the NGT order. There is absolutely no question of GTDC defying the NGT order and upon receiving the same we will act accordingly by taking legal recourse as per the law.”
Earlier, the bench presided over by Justice V R Kingaonkar has asked the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority member secretary to ensure that permission is not given to host the festival on January 26.
“We direct the authorities, particularly, the member secretary of GCZMA to ensure that no permission be granted to host such a festival on Republic Day on the beaches or any part of Goa and that Republic Day be celebrated with all sanctity in keeping with the Preamble of the Constitution,” the bench said.
