MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: The police stations and emergency helpline numbers at the control room received over 6,700 calls complaining against loud music from the coastal belt between January 1 and March 13, as per the information furnished by the State government.
These calls were received almost a month after the Bombay High Court at Goa in December, 2022 directed State authorities to be vigilant and ensure that no loud music is played beyond the permissible time limit.
The calls were made by residents and NGOs. However, the area-wise details of the complaints were not made available.
What is interesting is that despite the media, especially O Heraldo, exposing several late night parties, causing noise pollution, the police failed to take the cognizance of the issue.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had told in the Assembly that police did not conduct any inquiry into newspaper or media reports of music being played all night in coastal villages in Pernem and Bardez taluka.
Sawant, however, said that action is being initiated against the establishments, if found violating the laws. He said that police patrolling is maintained in the coastal jurisdiction to ensure that no loud music is played beyond 10 pm.
“Also loud music calls are attended promptly and police is deputed at the spot to verify the fact,” the Chief Minister maintained.
In December, last year, the Bombay High Court at Goa had come down heavily over the State authorities for failing to act against violators playing loud music beyond 10pm without permission.
“At least prima facie, any activities involving the playing of music outdoors after 10pm would be illegal and unauthorised. The authorities concerned will have to take action, in accordance with the law, to prevent such illegal activities,” the HC said in its order.
The Division Bench further asked the State to procure noise level monitoring systems, before the peak season since “there is no point in locking the stables after the horses have bolted”.
As reported by O Heraldo earlier, for the first time in the State, online real-time noise monitoring terminals would be installed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) across 12 locations, in the wake of growing concerns over the noise levels breaching permissible limits, especially along the coastal belt.
The GSPCB is planning to set up a continuous, real-time online noise level monitoring facility with a centralized networking system linked to the offices of the GSPCB, Police Department and District Collectors. The system will monitor noise-levels continuously for 24 hours, 365 days a year.
