Udupi: St. Mary’s island festival inquiry begins

Udupi: St. Mary’s island festival inquiry begins

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi,  March 30,  2012: M.V. Jayanti, Regional Commissioner, Mysore division, on Wednesday began an inquiry into the alleged obscenities during the Spring Zouk Music Festival at St. Mary’s Island from February 3 to 5. The controversial camp-out festival was organised by 3W concepts, a private firm, in association with the district administration and the Department of Tourism. However, when questioned by Ms. Jayanti, Udupi City Municipal Council Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak, Deputy Commissioner of Excise H. Puttaswamy, and circle inspector S.V. Girish maintained that nothing untoward had taken place during the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Deputy Commissioner M.T. Reju told Ms. Jayanti about the arrangements such as the stage, food counters and shacks. Thirty-five tents were erected for the programme and a generator provided electricity. Life guard facility was available and the police and Home Guards provided security. The organiser had taken permission from the Tourism Department in Bangalore, he said.

 Mr. Gokuldas Nayak said that 3W Concepts arranged three boats for ferrying people from Malpe beach in Udupi to the island. Around 1,000 persons were there at the island during the programme. People from the district and foreigners also participated. Participants were in the age group of 20 to 40.

 No tax was levied from 3W Concepts nor was any money taken by the Malpe Development Committee, which oversees the upkeep of Malpe beach and St. Mary’s Island. No demand note was given to the organiser. He visited the festival on February 4 and nothing wrong was noticed, Mr. Nayak said.

 Mr. H. Puttaswamy said the Excise Department had given nod for liquor consumption from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. The department personnel were present there on all the three days and no untoward incident was reported, he said. Mr. Girish said the police frisked every participant for drugs. There was a ring of outer periphery security. Besides, there were men and women police in mufti, he said.

 Prakash, Assistant Director of Tourism, said he was not present during the festival. He had not received any official information about the fest till date, he said.
 

Courtesy: The Hindu