Mapusa: Goa Pradesh Youth Congress committee onTuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government will be responsible if there is a third wave of COVID in the state as despite the neighbouring states imposing night curfew, the state is yet to take any action.On Tuesday evening, a delegation of Youth Congress led by its president Varad Mardolkarvisited the Deputy Collector I office at Mapusa “to question about the ongoing Sunburn event underway at Vagator.”The Congress leaders said, “More than 5,000 people are attending the event and raised apprehension over the COVID situation.”The delegation questioned the officials whether any permission was given for the Sunburn event.In absence of Deputy Collector, the Mamlatdar informed the delegation that no permission is given for Sunburn event.Speaking to media persons, Mardolkar said, “We approached the deputy collector office after we received information about the Sunburn event which was attended by 5,000-plus people. We were told no permission was given for Sunburn. Last time authorities did not act which resulted in the death of 3,500 people in the second wave.”
Goa government was monitoring the COVID-19 positivity rate, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.Panaji: The Goa government on Tuesday decided not to impose night curfew in the coastal state for now so that the tourism business amid the Christmas-New Year festival season is not affected.Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters in Panaji that his government was monitoring the COVID-19 positivity rate and stringent decisions would be taken during the meeting of the task force scheduled to be held on January 3 in case this rate rises."Imposing immediate night curfew is not feasible being a tourist state. We will need time. We have appealed to tourists to take maximum precautions. The health department and police have been instructed to ensure COVID-19 norms are not violated," he said.The positivity rate (infections detected per 100 tests) stood at 4.03 per cent on Tuesday, up from 3.99 on Monday, with the chief minister saying this rise was caused by two weddings that saw attendees from London and Germany.He asked local residents to not party with foreign nationals who are yet to complete their quarantine period."There are 1,300 foreigners who have arrived here recently. Their re-testing would be done after quarantine period is over. The maximum number of tourists will arrive in Goa on December 31," Sawant said.He informed that 94 per cent of the eligible beneficiaries in the state were fully vaccinated, while the remaining six percent were "delaying in taking the dose".PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comSawant said, as per the Centre's order, those in the 15-18 age group will be vaccinated against COVID-19 from January 3 and registration for this drive will begin on January 1, on which date precaution dose administration for frontline staff and healthcare workers will also start.The state will install genome sequencing facilities at Goa Medical College and Directorate of Health Services for detection of the Omicron variant, the CM said, adding that a US-based firm had agreed to provide one such machine free of cost, which would be kept at DHS.
PANAJI: After chief minister Pramod Sawant announced on Wednesday that he has denied permission to host the electronic dance music festival Sunburn at Vagator next month, its organisers said on Friday that instead of a mega event, they will hold a smaller event from December 27 to 29. âBearing in mind the improving situation and with nightlife and events slowly making a comeback, Percept has tied up with Hilltop, Vagator, to produce a smaller, limited capacity Sunburn from December 27-29 at Hilltop, Vagator,â read a statement by Percept Live. Under advice from the government of Goa, it was decided to not pursue a mega festival any further due to the Covid pandemic, the organisers said. âNo permission as BJP afraid third wave may mar its imageâThe smaller event, the organisers said, âis being organised with the support of the requisite authorities. The planning for the same is under wayâ. Last year, the government had withdrawn permission granted to the electronic dance music festival after public outcry, coupled with protests by Congress. This year, the application was kept pending for over four months even as Percept Live had started marketing the event and tickets were sold with a condition that only people who are vaccinated will be allowed. The denial of permission for the event came as a surprise to many as all other tourism-related activities, including casinos, are functioning at full capacity. A source said that the government has denied per mission for the event as it does not want to give another tool to the opposition and hold it responsible if a third wave erupts. âBJPâs governmentâs image took a massive beating during the second wave as over 2,000 people died as it failed to manage the pandemic. It canât afford another blow with just two months left for assembly polls. It will be suicidal even as the pandemic situation is under control now,â he said.
Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that the electronic dance music (EDM) festival Sunburn won’t happen in Goa this year. However, tourism minister Manohar Agjaonkar said that once Goa’s eligible population is covered with both doses of the vaccine, the festival can be held in January or February next year. After the CM, post-cabinet meeting, said that it has been decided not to grant permission for the festival, Ajgaonkar said he hadn’t been informed about the decision. However, he added that it was the “right decision” given the pandemic situation. “We have not given permission to hold Sunburn this time,” said Sawant. “We are not having Sunburn this year. I have cancelled it. I have already made the note on the file and have sent it back.” The festival organisers had announced on October 24 that they would hold the EDM on December 28, 29 and 30 this year at Vagator, with limited entry. Ajgaonkar explained that he had sent the proposal to hold Sunburn for the chief minister’s approval, as he felt the situation was conducive for it. “Whether any event should take place or not, the final call is with the CM,” he said. “There is a pandemic, and he knows better what the exact situation is like. We had approved the file and sent it to the CM to take the call. CM must have taken the decision because he thinks the situation is not right for it. According to me, the situation was right.” He said that at Sunburn, the crowd runs in lakhs. “We should not think of profit and loss at this moment,” he said. “We have to give priority to save Goans’ lives. Once the entire Goa population is covered with both doses of the vaccine, any event can take place in the state. Until then, we are not safe. If the vaccination target is achieved by January-February, the event can take place. Those coming in for the fest should also have taken both doses. The show must go on.” He said the chief minister has possibly taken the decision respecting the wishes of the local people. “What the people want has to happen in the end,” Ajgaonkar said. “The CM has taken the decision by studying the entire situation. I cannot take any decision on my own without the CM’s approval. CM had not told me that he would not give approval. His decision is final.”
(Image: News18)The Goa government on Wednesday said it will not grant permission to organise the 15th edition of the Sunburn EDM festival, slated to be held in December. "The state government has refused the permission to host the Sunburn festival in Goa. I have already signed the file refusing the permission," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters after chairing a state cabinet meeting refusing to elaborate. The 15th edition of the Sunburn Festival was slated for December this year at Vagator with the organisers announcing that only fully vaccinated participants will be allowed. Meanwhile, Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said it is the CM's prerogative whether to refuse or allow permission to organise the Sunburn festival. We have to respect the decision of the chief minister," he said. Sunburn is a commercial electronic dance music festival held in India.Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said the party was open to alliance with 'like-minded' parties. (File photo: IANS)Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the BJP is open for an alliance with “like-minded" parties, including the former ally MGP, for the upcoming legislative assembly elections. Talking to reporters here, Sawant said a final decision on alliance will be taken by central leaders of the party, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda.“We are open for an alliance with like-minded parties for the next elections," he said. Asked whether poll tie-up talks can happen with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) also, the CM replied in the affirmative.Sawant said considering the fact that some “destructive" political parties were trying to enter the electoral fray in Goa, it is imperative for the BJP and like-minded parties to join hands.The MGP is Goa’s oldest regional party which had snapped its ties with the ruling BJP earlier.Elections to the 40-member Goa assembly are due in early 2022.Goa BJP Minister's Brother Booked for Abetting MGP Neta Prakash Naik's SuicideAnother Tourist Dies After Complaining of 'Uneasiness' at Goa's Sunburn FestivalRead all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram.
