Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Entertainment Association (GEA), a body of local musicians and artists has approached the environment minister pointing out that music and noise should not be confused when deciding on “noise pollution” restrictions”.
GEA has stated that the High Court’s directions banning any outdoor music post 10 pm, “were clearly directed towards rogue commercial establishments and may not actually refer to the peaceful celebration of traditional and customary events”
They warned that the strict implementation would cause a loss of livelihood for the Goan Entertainers and moreover helplessness to the Goans who want to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime event or a religious day.
GEA also asked that the traditions and culture of Goa be kept in mind and that the Goan economy is highly dependent on tourism.
With the peak season knocking at the door, the GEA has rightly moved in to protect Goa’s tradition and traditional occupations, which seem to have got the wrong end of the stick in the otherwise right move to shut down noise polluting establishments, especially in North India which disturbed the peace and tranquillity of locals.
However, the same yardstick cannot be used when it comes to weddings, services, dances during Christmas and New year, and so on.
The GEA submitted a memorandum to Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral highlighting the uncertainties faced by entertainment professionals due to the strict enforcement of the noise pollution rules.
They emphasized that “Goan musicians are considered the best in the world and passionately perform live music which is pure and pleasant. Music and noise should not be confused but classified accordingly”
“The permissible noise level may be logically unreasonable considering the current parameters that have been notified. We request you to reassess the noise level requirements by using logical, reasonable, and scientific technology and set up the maximum permissible level of sound after a reasonable time pertaining exclusively to the state of Goa,” said GEA President Herschel Mascarenhas
They called for a reasonable relaxation in timings for live music performances and for the setting up of a new perimeter threshold limit for musical amplified sound after a reasonable time.
They further demanded for clarification on the relaxation of time limit for sound permission for important late-night notified days as per the government’s own order.
Besides asking that harassment of musicians by the authorities be stopped, they also asked that the government frame a policy for use of loudspeakers for indoor/soundproof venues.
The five-page-long memorandum was handed over by GEA President along with Vice President Claudio Tellis where they listed out their main demands.
In their memorandum, they lamented that the strict implementation of the noise pollution rules has dampened the spirit of the Goan entertainers and society in general.
GEA requested Minister Cabral to issue suitable directions to the authorities so that the equipment belonging to the performers should not be attached as it is their sole bread-earning tool and the performers themselves should not be penalized or be held liable for no fault of theirs.