Cite incidents of drug overdose and deaths at event every year
Citizens led by Velim MLA Cruz Silva handing over a memorandum to South Goa Collector Asvin Chandru to deny permission for Sunburn festival in South Goa.
MARGAO
Citizens from South Goa on Tuesday urged South Goa district Collector Asvin Chandru to deny permission for the Sunburn music festival proposed to be held from December 28-30 at an undisclosed location in the South district.
The delegation led by Velim MLA Cruz Silva, convenor of the Concerned Citizens of Goa against Sunburn Gerson Gomes and others handed over a memorandum to the district Collector, pointing out that the festival organisers cannot be seen as more powerful than the government, ministers, and the departments and the laws in force.
The delegation pointed out that ever since the event has been announced, a strong wave of opposition has started building in the form of public statements as well as street demonstrations by various citizens, activists, and organizations, adding that a number of village panchayats have already passed resolutions against the event and more are expected to follow.
Saying the proposed festival has created fear and anxiety in the minds of people, the delegation drew attention of the Collector that Goa already suffers from the menace of psychotropic drugs, and has become a major conduit, trading point and a hub for the international drug trade.
“The use of such drugs have gone beyond the traditional tourism & urban belts, and have now infiltrated deep into our villages, schools/colleges, to the point where one of the government’s own medical authority called it an "epidemic"”, Cruz later told the media.
He added: “Despite public denials by the organisers and even by the Govt and the police, it is the worst-kept secret that Sunburn has rampant drug use, as evidenced by the regular incidents of drug overdose and deaths every year. Besides existing drug abusers, such festivals provide a gateway to new users, especially local youth, who experiment with drugs as a novelty during these festivals and end up as addicts. Instead of taking steps to reduce the scourge of drugs, the Govt of Goa appears to be promoting the avenues available in the state for the sale and abuse of drugs. We condemn this and demand strong steps by your district administration in this regard”.
The delegation drew attention of the Collector the law and order as well as traffic issues thrown up by a mega festival such as Sunburn. They further said the type of activities promoted by the Sunburn festival is in stark contrast to, and an assault on, the native culture of Goa and Goans.
“The drug and alcohol abuse, the blatant flouting of laws, and the intentionally hedonistic nature of the activities, all demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the sensitivities and culture of the local populations. It may be recalled that last year, formal complaints were filed against the organisers for using religious imagery including of Hindu deities such as Shiva in their digital projections,” the memorandum added.
The Velim MLA told the media that the delegation has called on the Collector since Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had a day ago conceded that the Sunburn organizers have sought permissions to hold the festival at Quitol in Betul Panchayat area jurisdiction.
