Goa’s famous Sunburn Festival under threat as locals raise concerns over noise pollution | Details

Last year, the festival attracted 88.46 lakh tourists, which also included 4.14 lakh tourists from abroad. However, the local population, including those living in South Goa, have a different opinion on this.

The Opposition leaders have also expressed concerns over the festival. (Photo: TV9 Network)

Panaji: The Sunburn Festival of Goa, which is the identity of the state has come under threat. With a large number of local and Opposition parties having expressed concerns against the festival, the pressure is increasing on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to to withdraw permission for the festival.

The festival had earlier been granted permission by Chief Minister Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte. As per sources to TV9 Network, the CM does not want the discontinuation of the festival as it along with Shigmotsav, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), and the Festival for Disabled Persons (Divyang) are some of the events that have put Goa on the global cultural map.

CM Sawant wants to push the festival as a tourism hub

Because of this, the CM is looking to push as the tourism hub of Goa. Last year, the festival attracted 88.46 lakh tourists, which also included 4.14 lakh tourists from abroad. However, the local population, including those living in South Goa, have a different opinion on this. Several residents of Agondha, Chicalim, Vasco, and Varca Gram Sabhas have expressed their opinion against the festival citing noise pollution, disruption of daily life, and environmental degradation.

Recently, residents of these areas staged a protest against the festival, underlining their strong opposition. It may be noted that Sunburn organizers announced that they would not hold the event in Goa last month due to concerns. However, this time again. The event is scheduled to be held in the state.

Opposition leaders express concerns

The Opposition leaders have also expressed concerns over the festival due to increasing protests. State AAP chief Amit Palekar, who attended the protest, took to social media to criticise the state government. Palekar argued that comparing Sunburn to culturally significant events like Carnival and Shigmo insulted Goans.

Also supporting the protesting locals, state Congress vice-president Sunil Kawthankar and local MLAs dubbed Sunburn a “drug festival”. He further demanded a boycott of such festivals in Goa. Patkar also emphasised that Goa is globally renowned for its music, cuisine, and the warmth of its people, and not for electronic dance music, drugs, and loud noise.

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