The fate of Sunburn music festival in India is in serious jeopardy, as Goa’s Minister for Water Resources Vinod Palyekar announced he refuses to let EDM festivals go on in the state. While Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar seemed to express his openness to Sunburn and other electronic music festivals, Palyekar put his foot down.
“In the past we witnessed deaths due to drug overdose at the EDMs. As a true Goemkar, it’s my duty to oppose a festival of this kind, tooth and nail. At any cost, I will not allow [EDM] to malign state’s image,” Palyekar stated, as roughly translated Navhind Times.
“I am for good tourism in the State and we need to have a Tourism Policy in order to attract quality tourists who will come and spend heavily and in return would get quality time in the State. We cannot allow brand Goa’s name to get tarnished at any cost,” he further stated via Herald Goa.
It looks to be a “battle royale” for the two ministers, and there’s no telling which way will end. In a high-level meeting, the ministers discussed that Sunburn wouldn’t move forward “till dues are cleared,” because they claim it owes money to the state.
Meanwhile, Sunburn has remained active on social media and promised “some major announcements coming up for this year,” recently via the festival’s Facebook page. The festival describes itself as India’s premier electronic music brand, Asia’s largest 4-day EDM festival, and has featured huge names like Avicii, Armin Van Buuren, Dash Berlin, Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia and many more since 2011.
Source: Herald Goa | Navhind Times