Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst opposition demanding relaxation for religious festivities from the law prohibiting loud music after 10 pm, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday clarified that Churches and Temples are exempted from the ban with no restriction.
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Responding to media queries, Sawant said that the law does not imply to any religious activities be it in churches or temples. “There are no restrictions imposed on religious festivities. They will be held as it is,” he said.
His statement came after opposition and others expressed apprehension over conduct of midnight masses and other festivities in temples due to issues with sound restrictions.
Last week, following the High Court directions to ensure silent nights, the government amended the relaxation on use of loud speakers or public address system wherein no loud music beyond 12 am on Christmas Eve, for Christmas and on New Year’s Eve will be permitted. Moreover, there will be no use of loud speakers beyond 10 pm on New’s Year Day.
Before that the State government had permitted the use of loud speakers or public address systems during night hours from 10 pm to 6 am on 17 occasions this year.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said that the High Court order was with regards to disturbance to the members of the public due to loud music from entertainment events on the coastal belt and clarified that it would not impact religious services.
Cabral had also said that the religious services are being organised in the State traditionally, the government will not interfere with them.
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AAP wants relaxation for weddings
PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Youth wing national vice president Siddesh Bhagat on Wednesday appealed to the State government for help in granting some time off for weddings and other cultural and traditional events. Bhagat said that couples spend thousands of rupees months in advance to reserve a venue, bands, and other wedding-related expenses.
“The government should just relax the wedding timing by one hour from 10 pm to 11 pm. The wedding itself begins at 8 pm and now ends at 10 pm. Will the couples spend money for two hours then? In this way, all wedding-related businesses, such as wedding planners, caterers, bands, and others, will cease operations,” he said.
