Sunburn announces Pune venue minus police permission

After getting Sunburned once Punekers are not keen for the top music festival to return to their city at the end of this year Previously held in Goa the famous Sunburn festival moved to Wagholi last year but its Pune innings kicked off on a sour note after environmental violations were reported Even as teaser posters for the 2017 edition circulate announcing the event in PimpriChinchwad from December 2831 the Pune police say they are not aware of the eventA view of the crowds at Sunburn 2016 held in Wagholi Pic SunburnLast year locals had opposed the EDM music festival The organisers invited further controversy after they levelled a hillock to create the venue for the event They were slapped with a R1 crore fine and suffered further loss of R25 crore when a fire broke out while the stage was being dismantled Cops said the fire had started during some welding work going on at the venue and plywood and various other materials on the stage were guttedThe festival a highprofile fixture at Goas Candolim and Vagator since 2007 moved to Pune last year after the Goa government refused to give the organisers the goahead until dues of R2 crore to the police department were clearedDespite permissions not beishyng in place tickets are already on sale on viagogocom and have been announced on bookmyshowcom and on festicketcom for this years event which will feature gigs by artistes like Martin Garrix Dutch and DJ Snake FrenchDJ Martin Garrix and DJ SnakeHowever DCP Zone III Ganesh Shinde said No permission has been procured for the event neither are we aware about itJoint Commissioner of Police Law and Order Ravindra Kamble added Until now we have not received any request for permission or a letter informing us about the eventHarindra Singh Chairman and MD of Percept Limited the media communications firm behind the fest confirshymed the change of venue but refused to give further detailsSoumyas input herePune resident and activist Maruthi Bhapkar said he had written a letter to Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde to protest against the event It will ruin the culture of the city Goa already has a bad name thanks to it he saidThe stage for last years Sunburn fest in Pune was built after levelling a portion of the Kesnand hills Pic file photoHarindra Singh chairman and managing director of Percept Limited that organises the Sunburn festival said We had the Sunburn festival at Keshnad near Pune last year Despite allegations the event went well and successfully placed KeshnadPune on the global music mapThe event helped create an entire ecosystem where in all stakeholders benefited The festival complied with all legal statutory safety and security guidelines The company officials are currently in constant contact with various government authorities and the state tourism department to finalise this years festival And we hope to close that very soon We will apply for all required permissions once the plans are finalised Having said that its clarified that all ticket bookings are subject to government permissions and the event will only take place if all the required permissions are obtainedIts mentioned on the ticket that if the event doesnt happen they will refund the entire amount Yes I will be quite disappointed if that happensGautam KM a student from Hubli who has already bought a ticket