AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
VAGATOR/PORVORIM: There was a huge sense of relief for the long-suffering villagers of Anjuna and Vagator on Tuesday as the name of Janie Crasto was accepted as a member of the new Noise Monitoring Committee (NMC). Crasto has been a crusader against party venues that rampantly flout decibel norms in the beach belt.
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However, this good news was tempered by the announcement of a five-day music festival has been planned at 9 Bar in Ozrant, Vagator, which is slated to continue from 4 pm till 4 am from Wednesday to March 2, with the organisers boasting of after-parties from 4 am to 11 am. “We have given no permission for any such party,” stated Anjuna PI Suraj Gawas.
Going by the name of Plur, the music festival with no permissions has shocked locals, many of whom have children studying for the upcoming Board exams.
Interestingly, there has been a surge in room bookings at home stays in Anjuna and Vagator and as George, a tourist from Kerala, admitted, “Those who had bought tickets for the party that was recently cancelled have been intimated to come for this party. It is under a new name now and free for us.”
Despite finding no mention in the GSPCB affidavit presented to the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, 9 Bar is mentioned as an operational unit in the affidavit filed by the Police Inspector of Anjuna Police Station in the same case. Significantly, Goa Police on Tuesday registered a case against 9 Bar for violating decibel norms recently, where they played loud music from 10 pm to 6 am.
It is obvious from the ground realities of Anjuna-Vagator that Crasto and others on the NMC will have their task cut out. “The news of Janie’s selection and the five-day party are a double-edged sword for many of us. That they have decided to have a party in a residential area where many children are preparing for their final exams shows the involvement of someone powerful. However, with Janies’s name being selected, there seems to be hope for the future, “said Avelin Fernandes from Anjuna who has been at the receiving end of noise pollution.
“There is a consensus on the name of one person. But we have reservations on the other two,” stated Advocate General Devidas Pangam in his opening remarks as the Goa Bench of the Mumbai High Court met for Contempt Petition 12 of 2023 on Tuesday.
“Your Lordship suggested that the name of a retired advocate be taken up,” stated the Advocate General, as Amicus Curiae Nigel Costa Frias inquired about the objections to the names of Jeremy Ferriera and Dominic Pereira, the other two names suggested by him.
“Since you all have no problem with the name of the lady, all should consent to the name of the other individual. You all should be able to decide by tomorrow and inform accordingly,” suggested Justice Karnik.
“I have no issue if they want to suggest another name. The idea is to have someone who has no bias and a name agreeable to all,” observed the Amicus Curiae.
Dominic Pereira, who was part of the previous committee and whose name was mentioned again, refused and instead suggested the name of a non-practicing advocate from Calangute.
“I was removed as member of the NMC the last time on the grounds that I live far away. How can they consider the name of an advocate who lives in Calangute?” wondered petitioner Desmond Alvares.
“It is now clear that the government is hell bent on nominating its own person to the committee to keep providing wrong information. With Crasto in as one member, things are not going to be that easy for them now,” said octogenarian Wayne Pereira.
