PANJIM: State will ‘officially’ play loudspeakers for 15 days this year, on festival occasions, at 10 different festivities.
The Department of Environment has released this year’s calendar, permitting loudspeakers till midnight that is from 10pm to 12pm. No loud music or sound is otherwise permitted in the coastal state after 10pm.
The list includes last day of Carnival event which was March 5.
The other 14 days are Holi on March 20, Easter Eve on April 21, Second and Fifth day of Ganesh Chaturthi idol immersion (September 3 and 6), Anant Chaturdashi on September 12.
Loudspeakers are allowed late night on the first (September 29) and the last date (October 27) of Navaratri festival, on Kojagiri Pornima on October 13, Diwali Eve (October 26) and Diwali (October 27).
Tripurari Poornima on November 27 is also included in the list.
Loudspeakers can be played late night on Christmas eve and on Christmas and New Year.
The ‘authority’ concerned that is the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is directed to monitor the noise levels during the permitted festive occasion and take prompt remedial action in the event of any violation of the conditions.