Khaunte elaborated their meticulous planning surrounding the event, stating that they have issued a provisional NOC to Sunburn for December 28 to 30 and have proactively constituted a committee with the explicit mandate of ensuring stringent adherence to the guidelines laid down by the High Court.
Stressing the critical importance of accurate information dissemination, Khaunte sternly warned newspapers that erroneously claimed the festival would extend till December 31. The provisional NOC unequivocally specifies the designated period of December 28 to 30, and any misinformation spread to the contrary would warrant appropriate accountability measures.
In response to opposition from locals, the Goa Tourism Department had previously withheld permission for the 'Sunburn Music Festival' on December 31. The Empowered Committee, chaired by Minister Khaunte, not only upheld this decision, but also firmly declined permission for any music to be played beyond the stipulated time of 10 PM.
The Minister further added that they have granted provisional approval for Sunburn to unfold over the course of three days, from December 28 to 30. He stated that any deviation from these rules will not be taken for granted. Khaunte also added that organisers should not anticipate that they will accept their requests.
Read more: COVID travel advisory: Countries where COVID cases are rising
Khaunte further revealed that the festival organisers initially sought permission for the event to commence at 4 PM and continue until midnight. However, the committee, after careful consideration, sanctioned approval only until 10 PM. He elaborated on ongoing discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to address the various facets of the event and its impact on the local community.