PANAJI
Amid the controversy surrounding alleged violations by Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival and other mega shows along the coast, the State government on Monday constituted a Joint Special Cell (JSC) comprising high-ranking officers in both districts to decide on granting permission for mega events in Goa.
An order by Environment Secretary Arun Kumar Mishra “ based on approval of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant - appoints Collectors of the respective districts as Chairpersons of the JSC, while Member Secretary of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) or his/her representative and Superintendents of Police of the respective districts will be the members, and Area Deputy Collector/Sub Divisional Magistrate as the Member Secretary.
The government has tasked the JSC with considering and granting permissions for mega events within the framework of the Noise Action Plan within their respective districts, and if any violations are reported, it shall take into account these violations while granting subsequent permissions.
“Chairman shall form Sub-Committee(s) for overall field supervision and the said Sub-Committee(s) officials must remain present at the venue to monitor compliances,” it further said.
The State has been reporting several complaints of noise pollution and other violations such as failing to obtain NOC to hold the event at a particular venue or violating the CRZ norms, etc. Regarding Sunburn, the government has granted a provisional licence to hold the event at Vagator from December 28-30 by rejecting permission to extend till December 31 “ as proposed by the organisers; and to play music from 4 pm till 10 pm only.
