Goa to allow only smoke-free Sunburn
PTI, PANAJI | 16 December 2012 23:00 ISTGoa government has decided to make 'Sunburn 2012' a completely smoke-free event and keep a tab on the sale or consumption of drugs during the fest to be held this month.
'Sunburn', one of the most popular Electro Dance Music (EDM) festival, is likely to be held in Goa for three days from December 27.
"Smoking will be completely banned in the 'Sunburn' festival. We will keep special vigilance for it," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told a select gathering here yesterday.
He was responding to a question on frequent use of contrabands during the event, which is an annual feature in the state.
The chief minister conceded that curbing drugs required "heavy intelligence."
"To detect drugs we need heavy intelligence to trace it, we are on it," he claimed.
The 'Sunburn festival' had raked up controversy in the state with the Congress party questioning the state government to hold it in the beach belt, when it is chock-a-block during the Christmas and New Year time.
Congress spokesman Sudip Tamankar had earlier said the Parrikar government was allowing disaster to happen by permitting the festival, when the beach belt has no capacity to handle such a huge number of visitors.
However, responding to the allegation, state tourism minister Dilip Parulekar had said that they were yet to give permission for the event.
sunburn will be drugfree when pigs will grow wings and learn to fly. This govt is a total faliure. This govt is surviving only because of 'tina' (there is no alternative). In 2014 iv decided to vote for aam admi party if they give a good candidate even though he may not win just because both bjp and congress are useless buggers. And good by to congress and bjp both. There is no difference between parrikar and ravi naik when it comes to drugs.
At the end they will grant permission for the event. With the good intention and efforts it is possible to have a smoke free and drugs free sunburn festival in Goa, with Mr.Parrikar as home minister and CM of Goa. The local MLA Mr. Lobo is also putting his best efforts to change Calangute into world class beach town. We are getting good reviews that this BJP government is trying its best to give a good administration to the Goans. Inspite of mining ban and revenue crunch, CM Is making his best efforts to put the economy on the proper track. Instead if criticising and negative opinions, Goans need to support CM's efforts and give him time. Let us hope, the Sunburn event indeed becomes smoke free and drug free.