Candolim locals averse to 5-day EDM festival (Herald)

December 16, 2013 CALANGUTE: A five-day musical event at Candolim is being touted as a mega music festival to showcase star performers, but the organisers could end up facing the music of angry locals and even the wrath of the neighbouring panchayat. Speaking to Herald, a number of locals had claimed that the available infrastructure is not sufficient to cater to the mega festival. “Organising the music event during the already busy Christmas season is never a good idea and it could have been held during the second week of January. The narrow roads between Candolim and Calangute will create traffic chaos in the area, while a few roads temporarily closed for traffic in Calangute will further add to the traffic jams which have already begun in Calangute and Candolim,” said a local. Another local added, “We were already upset with a three-day musical festival and now, it will be worse with the five-day event. Authorities are least bothered about the plight of locals and senior citizens in the area.” Calangute Panch Joseph Sequeira was also concerned that the five-day musical event in Candolim could have adverse consequences for neighbouring Calangute as well. “I have been against such mega musical events from day one, if there is no proper infrastructure for the event. In this case, there are insufficient facilities for parking and fire services. Besides, there is not proper traffic regulation along the narrow roads. The event at Candolim will add to the traffic chaos in our Calangute village, further inconveniencing the locals and tourists,” said Sequeira. “Since the earlier festival in Candolim, there have been endless traffic jams during the Christmas week. The situation will only be worse this year with a five-day event. Except for a few Goans who make money, others will not benefit from such events,” Sequeira added. When contacted, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, however, felt that such music festivals were needed to promote tourism in the coastal villages of Calangute and Candolim. Mindful of possible traffic jams in the area on account of the festival, Lobo said: “I have asked the Calangute Traffic Cell for a traffic management plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic from St Alex Church, Calangute right up to the venue at Candolim.” “Parking at Candolim will be managed in the paddy fields and I don’t foresee any parking problems in Candolim.” Candolim Panch Fermino Fernandes also stated that the Candolim Panchayat has granted permission to the organisers and added that parking would be made available in the paddy fields, as was done during the earlier music festivals. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Candolim-locals-averse-to-5-day-EDM-festival/83261.html