‘Accused’ for fighting against noise pollution, they keep making noise for justice, even after 7 years

PERNEM: It’s been seven years since the people in the taluka of Pernem have been fighting a continuous battle against noise pollution in the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) at Mapusa.

Weary over the loud and disturbing music, 10 locals from Pernem protested against noise pollution caused by a resort in January 2015. Little did they know that instead of their issue getting resolved, the police would book them for a staged rasta-roko to draw the authorities’ attention to the matter. Since then, two of them have died and the eight continue to fight a legal battle at the JMFC court in Mapusa, which keeps being adjourned since then, while the music keeps getting louder. 

However, to add insult to injury, they claim that the matter keeps getting adjourned as the complainant just fails to remain present in court. Just to suppress their voice against the illegalities going on in the coastal belt.

The protesters, social activists, and members of the Pernem Noise Pollution Committee claimed that they are being punished for a crime they never committed and for no fault of theirs for the past seven years.

“The protest was held to curb the noise pollution. It was a peaceful protest however the police still went ahead and booked us for staging the rasta roko”, Shahapurkar added.

Social activist Devendra Prabhudesai said, “We are being punished for the crime which we never committed and for no fault of ours. For the past seven years, the matter has been adjourned. Twice a month, the hearings are scheduled and leaving aside all our work, we remain present.”

In January 2015, the residents of Pernem taluka including Morjim and neighbouring villages under the banner of ‘Pernem Nagrik Samiti’ had submitted a memorandum to the government threatening to take to the streets if it failed to act on the complaints against noise pollution caused by a resort.

The residents had said out of frustration and anger that if the authorities did not act against loud music then they would take to the streets.

 They claimed that despite repeated complaints, the police and the concerned authorities failed to act which forced the committee along with the locals of Gaudewada and Newwada in Morjim to stage a rasta roko.

Earlier, there were several complaints of noise pollution, especially in Vagator and Anjuna.

Following Herald coverage on noise pollution, Goa Police conducted raids on various restaurants, pubs, and clubs, which have been controlled to a little extent. But it’s just a drop in the ocean.