MAPUSA: Call it a mere formality or just eyewash. Complainant Sagardeep Sirsaikar, who was part of the inspection team, informed O Heraldo that the three clubs including Dubki and Hayati, which were supposed to remain sealed, continued playing loud music from Friday night till early Saturday morning.
The inspection team comprising Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Anjuna talathi, Anjuna Police along with complainant Sirsaikar on Friday night visited all the five premises which were supposedly sealed by the North Collector in May 2023 for not having consent under air and water act.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The complainant told the O Heraldo that the inspection was just a formality and showing the premises as sealed was just an eyewash as some of these played loud music till early morning.
Sirsaikar accused the authorities of being hand-in-glove with the violators, who were informed well in advance of the inspection team’s visit to their premises.
“These premises only have panchayat and Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) No Objection Certificate (NOC) and do not have permissions from Health, Excise, FDA or any other authorities concerned and when I tried to question the operators, I was told not to pose any other query besides those mentioned in the complaint filed. The system is corrupt. During the inspection, the operators showed that the kitchen and other main entry points were sealed but it was just to fool the authorities while they have created new entry and exit points to operate. The court should appoint a commissioner to investigate and crack down these premises hosting loud music parties,” Sirsaikar demanded.
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) chairman Mahesh Patil said “A letter is made to North Goa Collector to ensure that the venues which were directed to be sealed in May 2023 are not de-sealed.”
Patil said, “The collector has also to ensure that no parties are held. The Collector has to file a report. Our team has conducted an inspection and will file a report of the same.”
Anti-sound pollution activist from Anjuna Ravi Harmalkar said, “The system is corrupted as the authorities themselves are hand-in-glove with the violators. There is no proper monitoring that is happening from the side of the authorities, especially police. Having inspection is just a formality just because we file complaints. If complaints are not filed then the authorities will never bother to act. Also having parties in the venues, which are supposed to be sealed throughout the night, is a complete failure on part of the government.”
