MARGAO/PANJIM: The upcoming event ‘Glowfest The Lantern Festival’ planned on Saturday, May 25, in Morjim has evoked widespread criticism and outrage from environmental organisations and residents of Goa.
The festival, a ticketed event organised by Amusant at the venue Goafornia, involves releasing hundreds of candle-lit paper lanterns into the sky, has been flagged by the environmentalists and wildlife conservationists. They fear that this will pose severe threat to the beach's delicate natural ecosystem, including the turtle-nesting site. The news of the event has spread rapidly, igniting a firestorm of angry responses from the community. Prominent environmental groups, including Terra Conscious, Marine Life of Goa, Chameleon Wildlife Organisation and Living Heritage Foundation, have vehemently objected to the festival, providing detailed explanations as to why it cannot proceed.
Amusant’s attempts via social media platforms, to justify the event and propose mitigation strategies, such as spreading nets over the sea to collect burnt lanterns, attaching fireproof threads, or tying multiple lanterns together, have been met with fierce rejection from citizens, who deem these proposals preposterous and inadequate in addressing the underlying concerns.
Residents of Goa along with the environmentalists and wildlife conservationists have sent the authorities scores of emails demanding that the event be halted and permissions granted, if any, be revoked.
The North Goa District Collector and Goa’s Forest Department’s Wildlife Division have taken notice.
The Diocesan Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) and Fire & Emergency Services (F&Es) have also been contacted. While all of them are actively involved in addressing the concerns raised by the community, the protestors remain dedicated to continuing their pressure until the event is cancelled, citing the potential for an environmental disaster if it proceeds as planned.
The community has compiled a comprehensive list of risks associated with the festival, highlighting threats to both humans and wildlife. The event poses a significant fire risk to village houses, shacks, beach infrastructure, forests, and shrubbery in the area, exacerbated by the dry and harsh summer conditions. The Olive Ridley Turtles, an endangered species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, currently nest in the area. The festival’s disturbance, light, crowds, noise, and activity threaten the safety of the turtles, their eggs, and hatchlings. Additionally, small reefs and feeding grounds near the shore, home to various rare wildlife including turtles, would be severely disturbed. The ash and paper debris from the lanterns can harm the ecological balance of marine and terrestrial systems. The bamboo frames of the lanterns take years to break down and can trap or injure wildlife. Furthermore, floating debris may be mistaken for food by marine life, compromising their health. The festival’s large crowds, noise, fireworks, and the light from numerous lanterns rising into the night sky can disorient marine and terrestrial wildlife.
The locals stated that given the direction of the breeze, the air-borne candlelit paper lanterns would surely be blown towards the inhabited areas of the village and on the hill, giving rise to fires.
Despite Amusant’s assurances of collecting trash and monitoring wind conditions, the community remains unconvinced, citing the unpredictability of environmental factors, especially as the monsoon season approaches.
Shivprasad Naik, SDM and Deputy Collector Pernem, stated that he has not received any application from the organisers to hold the fest. “It is an eco-sensitive area and a turtle nesting site, so nothing is permitted over there. Let them advertise, but I will not allow it to happen. I have already given directions to the police inspector keep vigil and not to allow any activities over there. I have received intimation from the North Goa Collector, she asked me to look into the matter and give the report. It is eco-sensitive and nothing can be permitted as per the law so therefore I have ordered to stop it.”
When contacted, Prem Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forests told O Heraldo, “We also got the information from social media that the festival is being organised on May 25 and 26 night. We are looking into it. Today we had a field inspection. The Forest Department is not the authority to grant permissions. We will have to check with other agencies, whether Tourism Department or GCZMA whether they have given any permission. Our staff is looking into it. We are contacting the organisers to collect the necessary details. We have to check whether they have permissions. Our staff is ensuring the sanctity of the turtle nesting site.”
Narayan Chimulkar, Officiating Police Inspector of Mandrem, “We have received a letter from SDM, Pernem, to keep a watch and not allow the festival. We will deploy police there since it is a eco-sensitive area.
Adv Prasad Shahapurkar, Member of Noise Pollution Control Board, Pernem said, “I will ensure that nothing of this sort is permissible at Morjim, which has been declared as a turtle nesting site.”
Morjim sarpanch Umesh Gadekar said, “We have not given them permission to hold lantern fest. They have not submitted any application. The Deputy Collector has issued them a notice. The Morjim village Panchayat has also issued them a notice not to hold the festival.”