Dhargal Sarpanch Satish Dhumal along with a group of panchas and others while meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Photo Credits: The Goan
PERNEM
The Sunburn organisers may have been granted in-principle approval by the Tourism Department to organise the EDM festival at Dhargal-Pernem from December 28 to December 30, but Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar has reiterated that he and the people of Pernem constituency would not allow the festival to be staged.
“Although authorities have given permission to this festival, till date there has been no discussion with locals or me regarding the festival. We will not allow the Sunburn Festival to be held in Dhargal Panchayat area and in Pernem constituency,” said Arlekar, while speaking to reporters.
“The matter has now reached the court and our position will be clear after the court's decision.”
Even though a resolution opposing the Sunburn Festival was passed at a recent Dhargal Gram Sabha, the Dhargal panchayat had passed a resolution by 5-4 votes to approve the festival.
The event has divided the village, with the MLA and one group of residents opposed to the festival, while the panchayat and another group of residents have supported the event.
Former Dhargal sarpanch Aniket Salgaonkar, who is opposing the Sunburn Festival, warned that the people along with the MLA would stage protests against the festival.
Former Dhargal ZP member Tukaram Harmalkar reiterated that while they are opposed to the Sunburn Festival, they are not opposed to the government.
Dhargal’s ruling panchas meet CM
A group of ruling panchas and others led by Dhargal Sarpanch Satish Dhumal who have supported the Sunburn Festival in the village called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Later speaking to media persons, Dhumal insisted that the main reason for meeting the chief minister was to discuss the development of Dhargal. The group put forth the need for a flyover along the NH66 at Dhargal and the chief minister responded by saying that a tender for the flyover had been floated and that the work would start soon. Sawant assured them of his constant cooperation for the development of Dhargal village.
The issue of a concrete cement plant in Dhargal was also discussed with the chief minister, who assured them to look into the matter and resolve the situation.
