AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
PORVORIM: The ongoing tussle between the government and the noise pollution crusaders from Anjuna-Vagator over nominating members of the Noise Monitoring Committee (NMC) is likely to come to an end by Monday, with Justice MS Karnik of the High Court of Bombay at Goa confirming that the second name on the panel would have to be finalised by March 3. The name of Janice Crasto , a resident of Vagator, has already been included in the new NMC.
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At the hearing on Thursday, when Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the court that he had two names for the NMC to select from, Justice Karnik observed that there was a need for a wider pool of candidates to ensure the best selection. The judge noted that since the old committee did not exist, a two-member committee would be formed. “Since we have already agreed on one name, the other one should be sorted by Monday,” Justice Karnik said.
However, the nomination of Janie Crasto to the NMC, as suggested by Amicus Curiae Nigel Costa Frias and accepted by the Government and all respondents, created some dissonance as petitioner Desmond Alvares raised an objection. Advocate Gilman Coelho Pereira expressed surprise: “It is shocking that you are not in favour of the name suggested by the
Amicus Curiae.”
Alvares has pushed for the names of Incaio Fernandes and Jeremy Fereira, both of whom have been rejected by the government and respondents.
Commenting on Alvares’s stance, Desmond D’Souza from Vagator noted, “Desmond Alvares must realise that he is the petitioner and that the new members of the NMC will function independently and not under him.”
Advocate General Pangam has submitted the names of two more candidates for the NMC: 43-year-old John Logan D’Souza and 56-year-old Govind Madhu Dhargalkar, both residents of Anjuna.
Stabbing, noise demon keep Anjuna on the edge
ANJUNA: Shiva Valley wanted to host a party on Mahashivratri, just days after an individual was stabbed on February 18 during an all-night event at the party spot.
Harichandra Gawas, Police Inspector of Anjuna Police Station, stated, “They wanted to have a party yesterday for Mahashivratri, but we did not allow it,” adding that the party was stopped the night the stabbing incident took place. “We went to the hospital to meet the victim, and since he said he did not want to file a complaint, we had to return.”
Meanwhile, noise pollution continues to throw the life of locals off balance, especially students preparing for exams. Stacy D’Souza, 18, who is taking her Class XII exams, is having to deal with loud music from Hill Top: “I finished the exams with music blasting from Hill Top. Even after making many complaints over the phone, the police did not care to ask them to lower the volume.” Stacy added that the played continuously for four days.
