PERNEM
Fun, frolic and festivities were on display in abundance as thousands of tourists partied all along Pernem’s coast from Thursday till Friday night, as they ushered in the New Year.
People from all walks of life, both domestic and foreign, were seen enjoying the music, dance, food, drinks and fireworks, both on the beaches and at several parties along the coast.
It mattered little to several organisers that Covid was still a threat, that they did not have permission to hold night parties and that too, in the Silent Zones of Morjim and Ashwem-Mandrem on account of turtle nesting sites, as several parties were organised to packed crowds in Morjim, Ashwem-Mandrem and Arambol.
The police and government authorities appeared to be silent as no action was taken to enforce silence in the Silent Area, nor was action taken to stop the parties which did not have permission.
With several parties being conducted without permission along Pernem’s coast, there was no revenue to the local panchayats or the government coffers in terms of taxes.
According to sources, the demand among tourists to attend parties throughout the night was such that tickets were being sold for Rs 5,000-7,000 per person.
“A vast number of these revellers were seen without masks and did not maintain social distancing, despite concerns of the Covid pandemic and the party organisers made little attempts to check the revellers,” said a source.
There was a surge in vehicles moving along the coastal roads, with many visitors ending up parking their vehicles in a haphazard manner.
The Morjim panchayat took the initiative and made parking space available in a field at Vitthaldas Waddo and Gawade Waddo.
Several bonfires and fireworks were lit as crowds ushered in the New Year on the beaches.
