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Wadias' millennium party in trouble

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

The ten-day non-stop millennium rave party in Goa, which was to begin tonight and was expected to attract more than 25,000 participants every day, is in trouble.

The state government seems to be in two minds about the party. It ordered demolition of the tents and dance platforms erected over a sprawling area of Anjuna beach -- site of the party -- earlier in the day today, but stopped the drive after receiving a wireless message from Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha.

But the chief minister's intervention may not be of much help to the organisers, who include such big names as Bombay-based business tycoon Nusli Wadia's sons Jeh and Nash. In a separate order the Goa bench of the Bombay high court sought an undertaking from the organisers that they would not host the party or any other activity on Anjuna beach without the court's permission.

It all began with a report in Gomantak Times a few days back about how Paradiso de Anjuna -- a popular restaurant and a co-host for the party -- had encroached upon several acres of prime government land on the beach for the millennium bash.

Peter de Souza, the journalist who wrote the report, later moved the court praying for an injunction. He also requested the court to order demolition of the illegal structures erected at the party site.

Around 70,000 square metres of the beachfront surrounding Paradiso de Anjuna has been taken over by the organisers. They have cut the seaside cliffs within 200 metres of the high-tide line, blocked the traditional pathways, fenced off parts of the beach, cut a few trees and levelled the sand dunes.

There was also talk of the organisers making available a range of drugs to the participants. "Name your poison and you'll find it here," said a Web site created by the organisers to promote the event, billed as the biggest in Goa's history.

The complex created for the party is certainly the biggest Goa has seen. It comprises a multi-level dance floor extending right down to the beach; a "hilltop accommodation area" with around 400 fully equipped tents; a flea market with over 350 stalls; and a "growth and healing centre" with all kinds of esoteric treatments.

The entertainment zone offers adventure sports, tattoos and body painting. It also has several restaurants and bars, including a cyber café.

"Paradiso de Anjuna has been now dramatically expanded -- you won't recognise it anymore -- it now includes over 100 acres," said the Web site proudly.

"But we never gave them the permission to expand," is what S S Keshkamat, the state tourism director, has to say.

Though Sardinha was not available for comment, Tourism Minister Victoria Fernandes said yesterday that the organisers of the bash "could not take the government for granted".

Tension prevailed at the site of the party as the demolition squad moved in today. Six persons, including Nash Wadia, were arrested when they tried to stop workers from pulling down the tents. They were released after Sardinha's order to stop the demolition came.

The officials have now identified a similar non-stop bash at Vagator beach. "There will be many parties around the millennium, but we gonna do one at the place where parties began decades ago," says their Web site.

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