PANJIM: The High Court has ordered the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Department of Environment and Climate Change to be made parties in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against noise pollution in the State. The case will now be heard on November 30.
The Bombay High Court was hearing the PIL filed against noise pollution. After hearing all the parties the Court ordered to make GSPCB and Environment Department parties in the petition to explore the means of implementing the notification of the State government to keep a check on noise pollution.
Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira had filed a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with the directions issued by the Court in judgment and order dated July 4 in a PIL writ petition and some other orders made on the issue of noise pollution. The petitioner had sought compliance with the previous judgment and compliance with the January 2022 notification of the Goa government to keep a check on noise pollution.
In the contempt petition, the petitioner mentioned that several complaints against noise pollution were not inquired into and disposed of.
On October 10, the court asked the Collector to look into all the complaints and dispose of in 4 weeks. Notice was given to the Collector but the directions were not complied with.
“The HC has ordered to make GSPCB and Environment Department party to the petition to have their say with regards to compliance of the government notification to keep a check on noise pollution in the State,” Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed.
“The notification mentions of installation of an online noise level monitoring system and also a board along the periphery of the venue which will display the noise level recorded at the venue for the benefit of the public. The notification was issued by the Goa government in January 2022. If that is complied with, it will solve all the problems as it is connected online to the District Magistrate and GSPCB will then monitor it,” said Adv Ferreira.
The Court observed that in most of the cases complaint was received and the police officer went to the site and found nothing.
HC direction on PIL of Sagardeep Sirsaikar*
(One of the many PILs filed on this issue)*
Plea: seeking a direction to enforce and implement the provisions of the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000, and take steps and abate the noise and sound pollution in Survey No. 213/23A of Village Anjuna
Dedicated telephone line for receiving complaints of noise pollution
Control room to forward the complaint to the police station having jurisdiction
Police to immediately carry out an inspection and take appropriate steps
Register FIR and investigate and proceed against the violators in accordance with the law
All cases of violations shall be reported to the District Magistrate for immediate action
Oct 10 order of HC in Arnold D’Sa vs Mamu Hage (Collector North Goa)
8The Collector (North Goa) should also clarify the details of the permissions/approvals necessary to operate such establishments beyond 10 pm and to play music beyond 10 pm. Finally, the respondent will confirm whether the entities have all such permissions
and approvals
8Should also consider the issue of compliance with the various orders made by HC from time to time and the SC on the issue of
noise pollution
8This is not an adversarial proceeding. The main aim is to find effective ways to implement the Noise Pollution Rules and the action plan the State Government has now formulated
8Collector North Goa to ensure that there is strict compliance with the Noise Pollution Rules, the action plan, and the orders made by this Court from time to time on the issue of noise pollution
