MARGAO/CANACONA:  The music festival in the ecologically sensitive area near Agonda beach, Canacona, has come under a cloud with the police withdrawing their green signal -- albeit belatedly -- in a resubmitted report to the deputy collector on Wednesday. However, the South Goa collectorate has not yet withdrawn its NOC to the ‘Chakra view festival’, though sources say this could happen on Thursday.

The South Goa collector, Mr G P Naik told the media that he had enquired with the deputy collector, Mr Deepak Desai about the party after the media reports. He said  Mr  Desai told him that he (Mr Desai) had received the proposal and had forwarded it to the police. And based on their report, had issued the necessary licence.
“But after I spoke to him he sent the file back to the police who subsequently sent a revised report recommending cancellation,” the district collector said.
The SDPO, Quepem, Mr Rohidas Patre confirmed this and told the media that the report had been sent to the deputy collector on Wednesday  afternoon recommending cancellation of the NOC granted.
Police sources say that they had granted the initial green signal as the organisers had informed them that this festival was a Yoga event.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister, Mr  Digambar Kamat had ordered an enquiry into the holding of this three-day festival telling the media that  the district collector had been asked to visit the party site. “I have ordered the district magistrate to probe the matter. We need to know who has given them the permission,” Mr Kamat said.
The deputy inspector-general of police, Mr Ravindra Singh Yadav had told reporters earlier in the day that the police would keep a close watch on the festival, which is supposed to begin at 6 a.m. on February 5 and end on February 7.
Mr Yadav also said  the anti-narcotics cell and the district police have been instructed to keep a hawk  eye on drugs or psychotropic substances that could be sold at the venue.
On the other hand, Mr Santosh Kadri, the proprietor of Sprirals production which is organising the party, denied that this was a rave party.
Speaking to the media at Agonda on Wednesday late evening he said  the event was  totally eco-friendly and stated  that artists, musicians and environmentalists from different countries would participate in the event on the hilltop of this Agonda plot, which is far away from the sea and residential areas.
He claimed that necessary licences from the Agonda panchayat, the excise department, the deputy collector, Canacona were taken, though admitting that conditions had been set -- like no noise pollution and annoyance to the general public and maintaining  traffic discipline.
The Canacona legislator, Mr Vijay Pai Khot expressed his ignorance of any music festival in the area, but said that such festivals “should not be allowed here”.
Another music festival ‘Sunburn’ made the headlines after allegations of drugs being sold and consumed were made. The music festival  was in the eye of storm after the death of a Bangalore girl, Meha Bharadwaj. Meha, who attended the festival  was said to have died of suspected drug overdose.