HC to hear seafood festival case today

In the petition challenging the Seafood Festival to be held at Miramar Beach between February 9 and 12, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has granted the state government time until Tuesday to file the affidavit. Some residents of Panaji and the surrounding areas approached the High Court challenging the decision of the director of tourism to hold the three-day Seafood Festival on Miramar Beach, stating that the festival could lead to the destruction of ecology. The petition The petition states that the government of Goa policy bans food festivals on all beaches in the state. “In the event the seafood festival is organised on Miramar Beach, there will be large-scale destruction of ecology due to the loud music that will be played, stalls erected on the beach, garbage generated, the use of machinery, footfall, and the disturbance resulting therefrom,” states the petition, seeking directions to shift the festival away from the beach. It has also sought directions to the commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji not to give permission or licence to the department of tourism to hold the festival on Miramar Beach.