Panjim: The Bombay High Court in Goa on Tuesday once again adjourned till Wednesday the case on the proposed Goa Sea Food Festival at Miramar.
When the matter came up for hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the court that there has been a change in the government policy of allowing seafood festivals on beaches and the Cabinet has also approved a new policy in this regard. However, when the court asked him to produce copies of the government decisions, he sought time to file the application along with the affidavit.
The Advocate General further said that he will hand over copies of the application and affidavit to the petitioner and other respondents by Tuesday evening.
The court also asked the Advocate General to produce copies of the traffic plan in Miramar during the festival. But the petitioners did not receive copies of the application and affidavit.
The tourism department is organizing a three-day Goa Sea Food Festival in Miramar from February 9 to 11 during Carnival in the state.
Former Panaji City Corporation (CCP) councilor Patricia Pinto and 11 others from Panaji have challenged the tourism department’s decision to organize the Goa Sea Food Festival from February 9 to 11 at the Miramar beach, despite the government policy. Decision to ban food festivals on all beaches in the state.
The petitioners have said that the Tourism Department’s decision to go ahead with organizing the Goa Sea Food Festival at the Miramar beach was in violation of the High Court orders of February 14, 2001 and December 14, 2004.
According to the petitioners, in April 1999, the State Government had taken a policy decision that no food festival would be allowed to be organized anywhere on the beaches nor would any other activities which pollute the beaches be allowed. or create impure and unhygienic environment, and a decision was taken to impose a complete ban in this regard. Then in February 2000, the government informed the High Court about its policy decision that no food festivals would be allowed to be organized anywhere on the beaches nor any other activity would be allowed there.
The petitioners have also prayed that the CCP Commissioner be directed not to grant permission/license to the Tourism Department for organizing the Goa Sea Food Festival at Miramar Beach.
