Candolim locals reject Sunburn at gram sabha meet

MAPUSA

The villagers of Candolim have unanimously resolved not to permit the Sunburn festival or any similar large-scale musical events in their coastal village, citing concerns over noise pollution and the negative influences associated with such events.

The decision was made during a gram sabha meeting held on Sunday, where residents expressed strong opposition to the festival and its impact on the community.

Anthony D’Souza, a resident of Dando, Candolim, voiced concerns about the disruption caused by the Sunburn festival, which he said had been rejected by the people of Goa for several valid reasons.

“The event generates excessive noise, causing sleepless nights for locals, especially senior citizens. It also disturbs tourists who come here seeking a peaceful environment,” D’Souza said.

Another local highlighted the event’s association with social vices, such as drugs and prostitution, adding that the village's narrow roads are ill-equipped to handle the influx of 80,000 tourists per day.

He further criticized the event organizers for damaging the coastal environment, including the destruction of beach vegetation and sand dunes.

Following these discussions, the gram sabha unanimously passed a resolution stating that the Candolim village panchayat will not grant any permission or no-objection certificate (NOC) for Sunburn or similar events in the future.

The motion was seconded by Glen Fernandes, another Dando resident.

In addition to opposing the festival, the villagers also expressed outrage over derogatory remarks made by Subash Velingkar regarding Goencho Saib (St Francis Xavier), a revered figure in Goa.

Damien Tellis, a villager, strongly condemned Velingkar’s comments and called for a silent protest in response to the leader’s inflammatory statements.

Other issues discussed during the meeting included the illegal sale of banned gutka at local kiosks, with gram sabha member Camilo raising concerns over the litter created by customers who discard wrappers indiscriminately. He urged the panchayat to take action against those violating the ban.

The long-pending issue of fixing the sluice gates at the controversial Candolim bund was also raised by local resident Sushant Lotlekar. In response, Candolim Sarpanch Blaise Fernandes explained that the work had been delayed due to the monsoon season but assured residents that it would be addressed soon.

The panchayat also announced plans to request police assistance in conducting a tenant verification drive to ensure the safety and security of the village’s residents.