Goa can promote classical dance festival in place of EDM: Min

After facing flak for promoting Electronic Dance Music (EDM) events like Sunburn, Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar today said the coastal state can encourage classical dance festivals.
The state government has also decided to mark some places as music zone which would be exempted from Madhya Pradesh Control of Music and Noises Act.
"Why do you only talk about Sunburn when we speak of EDM?Is it only EDM? We have classical music, drama music, folklore; there are so many EDM festivals that we can think about," Ajgaonkar said while talking to reporters in Panaji after chairing the high level meeting of the representatives for setting up infrastructure in the tourism belt.

"We need music to attract tourists. If you want to promote tourism then you need music and EDM. We need music, which will take our culture ahead. We don't need drugs to be the part of the festivals," he said.
Goa was hosting Sunburn and Supersonic EDMs, which have been discontinued since last year.
The minister said he has not received any proposal from the organisers of Sunburn or Supersonic to host the event this year.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman Nilesh Cabral who was also part of the meeting said the state government is contemplating the possibility to create special zones where music can be played till late night.

"We are trying to create zones where music can be played till late night. Right now we are governed under Madhya Pradesh Control of Music and Noises Act," he said.
"This Sound Act is a parliamentary decision, we are going to formulate Act in the state we will pass it and send it to the Centre.
"Hopefully we will pass it in the next assembly session," Cabral said.
Speaking about developing facilities along the beach belt, Ajgaonkar said provision of potable water to the tourists is a major concern, which would be addressed by the state government.
Central government has approved Rs 100 crore for Goa under Swadesh Darshan scheme, the minister said, adding, the fund would be completely utilised to develop facilities in the beach areas.

"The fund can be used as and when we approve the facilities. It would be implemented under GTDC. The legislators from the coastal belt, sarpanchas and locals will be taken into confidence as their cooperation is required," he said.
"By September 15-20, 2017 the state government will conduct inspection of the places. Once these facilities are created, state will become a leader in the field of tourism," he added.