PANJIM: The State government notified the ‘Amended Noise Action Plan’ to purportedly streamline the processes related to curbing noise pollution in the State, as specified before the High Court of Bombay at Goa on April 30.
The amended action plan specifies mechanisms for noise mapping, monitoring, penalties for violations, remedial actions etc. The notification lists out application processes for procuring related permissions, rules governing the monitoring processes, penalties, timings for permitting loudspeakers, rules related to bursting of firecrackers, Noise limits applicable for vehicles of different types etc.
Although, the plan which is notified is termed as ‘Amended Noise Action plan’, very few changes have been made in the action plan notified earlier in March this year.
Although the Court had asked the government during hearing on April 30, as to why the landline telephone numbers of the Collector’s office have been provided instead of mobile numbers to report violations in the Plan notified on March 14 and whether there was anybody in the Collector’s office to answer landline numbers at 11 pm, the amended plan notified continues to list out landline numbers of the officers designated as ‘Authority’ under the said Noise Rules, for general information of the public.
If permission is required for more than seven days a month, at any location for use of loud speakers/public address system in open air, in residential area, then a letter of consent from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 is mandatory. In such cases application form is also to be filled and submitted to GSPCB.
If the permission is for indoor, music, the applicant has got the option of asking for permission for long period which may cover the entire season. The date and month of start and close may be mentioned.
During the hearing on April 30, the High Court had asked the licensing authorities to furnish a list of the licences issued to play music, while the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) was asked to make a statement on Monday, whether the licenced premises have noise monitoring systems installed and whether such premises are functional.
