Today we have submitted memorandum to the Chief Secretary, Dr. Sneha Gitte, Collector & D.M.-North Goa District, Mr. Asvin Chandru A., Collector & D.M.-South Goa District & other government departments strongly demanding not to grant permission to SUNBURN EDM festival anywhere in Goa due to its controversial past of violation of government directions/permissions, drug nuisance, noise/air pollution & death of EDM participants. We have also enclosed copies of old memorandum submitted against SUNBURN EDM festivals along with this representation to highlights that Congress, Youth Congress, Mahila Congress are fighting against these EDM menace relentlessly.
In representation submitted today, we have highlighted various death occurred due to allege drug overdose at EDM Festival site, in 2009 (Neha Bahuguna), 2014 (Isha Mantry) & 2019 (Sai Prasad, Venkat Satyanarayana & Sandeep Kotta). In 2013, ANC arrested one Saurabh Agarwal (a resident of Raipur) inside the EDM venue for possessing charas & during that raid, some more people were also seen consuming drugs at venue. In 2013, the Calangute Police arrested 5 people with drugs at another EDM festival site which created suspicion that drugs are a major draw at these EDM festivals.
The Hon’ble High Court during hearing of PIL WP 2824/2022 (F) observed that despite clear & categorial instructions, the EDM organizers exceeded 55db(A) sound permission on all the 3 days in 2022 which was a serious contempt of court instructions & further observed that other breaches of the permission & noise pollution Rules were also noticed besides exceeding the prescribed decibel levels during SUNBURN EDM festival in 2022; also raised question how permission was granted to organizers on 28/12/2022 to the application inwarded only on 27/12/2022? Even the Chief Secretary has admitted that the permissions which were granted by the S. D. M. & the S.D.P.O. to the organisers, within 24-hours in gross violation of the rules. The Hon’ble High Court in PIL WP 2824/2022 (F) has observed that “Moreover, the Supreme Court has held that violations of the noise pollution rules would amount to a breach of Article 21 of the constitution. Therefore, it is high time such violations are dealt with firmly.”
Due to strong directions of the Court, the G.S.P.C. B. in its 154th Board Meeting authorized its Member Secretary to file criminal complaint against organizers of Sunburn music festival held in December 2022, for violating noise rules. In 2012, a local Goan Channel exposed the tax evasion by the SUNBURN organizers & after realizing the modus operandi of the organizers to evade tax, a team of officers was deployed by the Commissioner of Commercial Tax (CCT) at the ticket counters of the EDM festival.
Apart from these controversies, heavy traffic congestion was witnessed during the SUNBURN EDM festival on Siolim-Anjuna roads resulting in chaos & altercations among commuters/vehicle owners. Another serious issue is about law and order. As reported many gangs are involved in organized crimes during EDM Festival. Thefts of thousands of high ends, premium phones were reported during 3 days of SUNBURN EDM festival. The Goa police are extremely burdened due to these criminal activities. Apart from that the entire traffic and civil police force has to be diverted to the places in and around the event venue. 3 days of EDM festival put tremendous pressure on police force during the peak tourist season.
In the past these EDM organizes had levelled serious allegation of bribes against the Government of Goa for granting permission to EDM. The then C.M., late Manohar Parrikar then warned the EDM organizers either to prove bribes allegation or tender apology. SUNBURN EDM festival is also opposed in Pune, Maharashtra for promoting nudity, obscenity, alcohol & drugs. Due to strong resentments of local people, SUNBURN EDM festival needed to change the venue of the festival twice during a brief period of 3 years in Pune.
Keeping in mind all these facts we demand not to sanction permission to SUNBURN EDM festival anywhere in Goa due to its controversial past of violation of govt. permissions, drug nuisance, noise/air pollution, death of EDM participants, traffic congestion, law & order situation. If the government still persists in allowing permission to SUNBURN inspite of all these controversies, our Congress Party will not remain a mute spectator and will take every right step to stop such unwanted events from our State.
Janardhan S. Bhandari
Ex General Secretary-G.P.C.C.