MAPUSA
Welcome to the coastal village of Anjuna, where music and controversy never end.
The renaming of the popular Ozran beach in Vagator as ‘Sunburn Beach’ and declaring it as private beach by a private entity has sparked a storm in the village.
It all began when a clubhouse renamed after the popular music festival sent a tantalising invite beaconing patrons to the ‘Sunburn Beach Club’ at Ozran.
“Sunburn presents an immersive experience that takes you closer to a blissful world. We are proud to open the doors of the Sunburn Beach Club “ spread across five levels of unique ambience, that combine the best of indoor intimacy and outdoor serenity,” a digital invite read.
“With our own private beach and yachts, Sunburn Beach is that perfect gateway where the wanderlust finds tranquility,” the advert further added.
Incidentally, the inaugural party was being held in a structure/property which had come under the scanner of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
In 2019, the GCZMA had ordered demolition of a series of structures in the property.
Very recently, in July this year, the Member Secretary of the GCZMA had rewritten to the Collector North reminding about the demolition of the “offending structures” in the property.
“The demolition order doesn’t seem to have been executed and resultantly the owner of the offending structure has got emboldened to carry out additional structures,” said GCZMA Member Secretary Jhonson Fernandes, in his letter to the collector.
After getting the wind of the renaming and restarting of the activity in the illegal structure/property, agitated locals under the banner of Vagator Anjuna Caisua Villagers Forum (VAC) shot a letter to the Collector North, Anjuna panchayat and various other authorities to initiate action against the illegal structure.
“The offenders have not only brought their illegal construction to fruition but have also advertised the local beach called as Ozran or Small Vagator Beach as ‘Sunburn Beach’ thus attempting to rename the traditional area,” the villagers said.
They further said that it was advertised Ozran as a private beach which in reality is a public area and traditionally frequented by the locals, domestic and international tourists.
“To evade the demolition orders, they are bypassing the laws and leasing it to different parties. Today it is ‘Sunburn’, tomorrow it will be ‘Moonburn’. Whoever wants to start business have to respect the law of the land and also respect the people and the culture of the place,” said Carol D’Souza, secretary of VAC and a resident of Anjuna.
Locals have reported that the owner of the property has blocked the traditional access to the beach and stationed a dozen bouncers in the area to keep the public away.
“The villagers are very much affected as they are worried of losing their identity in their own land. None of us are allowed to go to the beach,” said Fr Ramiro Luis, Parish Priest of Vagator and convenor of the VAC.
According to D’Souza, the local panchayat and communidade should regularly keep check of such illegal places and immediately report to higher authorities.
Anjuna Sarpanch Savio Almeida informed that the panchayat has not issued any licences to the structure.
“We had issued a demolition order against the structures but the Directorate of Panchayats brought a stay on our demolition order,” Almeida said.
