Dhargalim locals file PIL against Sunburn

Panaji: The villagers of Dhargalim in Pernem taluka filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the high court seeking directions for the authorities to revoke the permissions granted for the Sunburn festival in their village.

They said that the venue announced is in the heart of the village, passing through NH 66. It has two hospitals, three schools, one college, and the international airport in its vicinity.

The chief minister had recently said that the Sunburn organisers have finalised a private land to host the festival in Dhargalim.

The electronic dance and music (EDM) festival is likely to infest the now-developing village with alcohol and restricted substances causing uncontrolled sound and light pollution, the petitioners submitted to the high court.

They also raised the issue of the potential risk of uncontrolled traffic and overcrowding on NH 66, as nearly one lakh people are likely to attend the EDM festival.

As an alternative, they have suggested that the festival be shifted to a closed-door facility away from the village, where tourism is encouraged.

Alternatively, they sought a special committee with members of the home, tourism, health and irrigation departments, airport authority, national highway authority, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth management of the festival and overall peacekeeping of the village.

The villagers are also seeking directions to formulate guidelines by the committee whereby data collected from attendees is disclosed to regulate the inflow of attendees for the festival. They further sought a stay on the sale of tickets and permissions for the festival.

Pending final disposal of the petition, the funds collected through sponsorship or the sale of tickets may be directed to be deposited into a security account.

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