Goans in mourning, but it's party time in coastal North

The Goan Everyday | SEPTEMBER 29, 2020, 12:21 AM IST

                             

T
en people died of Covid, and the active cases touched 5,097, revealed the health bulletin on Sunday. Six to ten people are dying of virus infection daily. Lives of people are crippled, and there is fear and panic around. Against this backdrop, what is astonishing is that it's party time in the coastal north where all pandemic regulations are thrown to the wind. There is no concern about the pain that the people of the State are undergoing right now.

How do authorities explain the full-blown night parties happening? Is this part of tourism which the government is trying to showcase in a pandemic? Or is this part of an economic revival plan? How can such well-orchestrated parties go unnoticed, and who is responsible for these? A protest elsewhere meeting draws the ire of the entire government machinery, and people who gather to discuss issues that affect the State are being chased away in the name of the pandemic. Why do pandemic rules don't apply to parties?

If Unlock 4.0 allows a social gathering of up to 100 people, there also has to be regulations in place. Wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision of a thermal scanner, handwash or sanitizer is mandatory under MHA guidelines. Permissions cannot be granted without overlooking these aspects, and fixing responsibility on the owner of venues is not a way to enforce discipline. There should be compliance mechanisms put in place. It is baffling to understand why even the cops were not showing any interest when two parties were happening barely 500 meters away from the Anjuna police station. When it is about enforcing pandemic regulations, the law keepers cannot be bystanders. Even if authorities have given permissions for night parties, the police should have been on standby to ensure that due protocol is followed. It's a disturbing trend when the police turn partners in crime.

The visuals of the party show that rules and regulations were blatantly flouted. The environment was mystified with laser lights, loud music, Dj music, group dancing mixed with a free flow of alcohol, and leave aside narcotics. These parties go on till the wee hours of the next day.

The fire-fighting against night parties undertaken by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant some time back has been an exercise in futility. In a meeting with Tiswadi MLAs, it was decided that WhatsApp groups would be formed for better coordination between police, deputy mamlatdar, health department and legislators in the area. The CM has been a vocal opponent of such night parties because they flout social distancing norms. Incidentally, these are not the only two parties that happened last weekend. Such events have been organized at different locations along the coastal belt and attended by large party crowds every weekend.

While the common man struggles to keep pace with life, a night party culture unfolds in one corner of Goa. It is a picture of contrast which exposes the ugly side of a highly compromised system.

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