January 5, 2022: The Goa Government under Rule 4 (2) read with Rule 2 (c) of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, notified the State Action Plan for control of Noise Pollution, published in Official Gazette, Series II No. 42 dated 13-01-2022.
March 14, 2022: Revised State Action Plan for Control of Noise Pollution was being issued in supersession 05-01-2022.
Important and non-negotiable actions to be carried out by the Goa Pollution Control Board and other “authorities”
Action by Goa State Pollution Control Board— The Goa State Pollution Control Board shall carry out noise level mapping along with the police officials after identifying locations in different zones and suggest remedial measures required if any based on the noise level mapping.
Herald asks: Has this been done? Have the zones in which the majority of these parties have been mapped, have remedial measures been suggested? Have they been implemented?
The noise level mapping shall be extended to other areas if required on the recommendations of the District Magistrate and the locations will be selected as recommended by CPCB in their guidelines titled “Methodology for Formulation of Noise Mapping in India.”
Herald asks: Which are the areas where noise level mapping has been done? Based on this, have other areas been identified too? Has mapping been done there?
About loudspeakers and other PA systems during specified festive occasions, the time limit is extended to midnight only. These techno parties do not fall under events on “festive” occasions. And in any case, the limit here too is till midnight, not the next morning.
Rule 5(3) prescribes that the State Government may subject to such terms and conditions as are necessary to reduce noise pollution, permit use of loudspeakers or public address system and the like during night hours (between 10.00 pm to 12.00 midnight) on or during any cultural, religious or festive occasions of a limited duration not exceeding fifteen days in all during a calendar year and the concerned State Government or District Authority in respect of its jurisdiction as authorised by the concerned State Government shall generally specify in advance.
“Festive occasion” shall include any National function or State function as notified by the Central Government or State Government and (ii) National function or State function “shall include” (A) Republic Day (B) Independence Day (C) State Day.
Herald asks: Are these trance parties with foreign DJs notified as State government events?