Augusto Rodrigues
PORVORIM: The ongoing legal battle over noise pollution in North Goa took a dramatic turn as evidence from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) website was presented in the Bombay High Court, revealing serious breaches of decibel limits by popular establishments in Vagator and Anjuna. Locals, particularly those in Vagator and Anjuna, may soon find relief after sleepless nights in the Christmas-New Year season.
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The evidence came in the form of screenshots submitted by petitioner Desmond Alvares in the Contempt Petition 12 of 2023. These images, taken from the GSPCB website, included sound recordings from functions held during the festive period. According to Alvares, the evidence was a direct contradiction to claims made by several establishments that had assured the court they would adhere to noise control regulations.
“I requested the hearing be postponed until Monday to allow other parties time to respond,” said Amicus Curiae Nigel Costa Frias. In his statement, Alvares said: “All the recorded decibel readings were downloaded from the GSPCB website. I just got a few of them, but the truth is that noise pollution in the festive season breached prescribed limits right from Anjuna to Arambol, with the police being mere spectators.”
The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court had previously granted permission to three establishments – Diaz Pool Club and Bar, Noah, and Thalassa in Siolim – to remain operational, with the condition that no music would be played.
These establishments had separately submitted affidavits confirming their commitment to keeping kitchens open while refraining from playing music. However, Alvares’ evidence contradicted this assurance.
The submitted data revealed alarming results. For instance, recordings from Thalassa on December 29-30, 2024, showed sound levels exceeding 100 decibels, well beyond the 50-decibel threshold set by the Supreme Court. Similarly, Alvares presented evidence in the form of screenshots, showing now live monitoring systems at Diaz Pool Club and Bar and Noah were disconnected at various times.
The Anjuna Police Inspector, Gawas, offered an explanation for the technical failures, suggesting the internet service might have been down during the time of the recordings. “Most probably the internet was down when the recordings were made. It’s difficult to explain why it was off otherwise,” he said following the hearing.
Despite the assurances given in their affidavits, Alvares’ evidence suggested that not only was music being played, but sound levels were also far beyond the legal limits. Between December 29 and 30, 2024, Thalassa’s sound levels were recorded at over 100 decibels—more than double the permissible limit. Similarly, screenshots revealed that the monitoring system at Diaz Pool Club and Bar was disconnected at 22:41 on January 2, 2025, while the system at Noah in Vagator also showed disconnections, accompanied by the alert ‘Mains disconnected’.
Alvares, visibly frustrated, confronted Inspector Gawas when the police officer asked how he had obtained the readings. “I got them from the GSPCB website. Now that the information is out in the open, it’s time for action. Don’t make me look like the villain,” Alvares responded.
In addition to the establishments under scrutiny, Alvares also submitted decibel readings from Purple Martini, an establishment involved in a separate dispute with local resident Avelina Fernandes. Fernandes has long complained about the noise disturbance from the venue, and she expressed her frustration at the lack of action from authorities. “After months of sleepless nights, they now think they can threaten me legally. Frankly, it’s better than the noise we’ve been forced to endure,” Fernandes said.
Looking ahead to the next hearing, scheduled for January 13, 2025, Desmond D’Souza, another local resident, remarked, “It will be interesting to see how the parties involved respond to these findings. They have a lot of explaining to do, especially those who assured the court they would only operate their restaurants in accordance with the court’s directives.”
