Despite a recent High Court injunction prohibiting loud music beyond 10 pm, Anjuna’s picturesque coastal region witnessed a blatant disregard for the regulation as loud music reverberated through the night on Friday. Law enforcement seemed to have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the unfolding rave parties, opting to issue roadside fines instead.
This transgression comes on the heels of the Goa State Pollution Control Board’s (GSPCB) decisive actions in May, when it forced the closure of several prominent establishments including Hayati Beach Club, Café La Musica, Dubki Beach Club, Banana Forest Bar and Restaurant, and Mayan Beach Club. These venues had been operating without the necessary consent under the Water and Air Act. The GSPCB had entrusted the local police with the responsibility of ensuring compliance and reporting their actions.
Surprisingly, despite clear directives from the GSPCB, both Hayati and Dubki Beach Clubs brazenly hosted thumping Trance parties that persisted well into the night. Other entertainment venues followed suit by organizing Rave parties of their own. Curiously, the Anjuna police appeared to have turned a deaf ear to the booming music, opting instead to impose fines on tourists found in the vicinity of the party hubs.
A recent exposé by O Heraldo has further illuminated the situation, revealing that the very establishments that were officially sealed by the Pollution Control Board have seemingly found a way to circumvent the restrictions, holding their festivities in the Vagator locality. In response to the unfolding events, GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil has affirmed that he personally instructed the North Goa Collector to maintain the closure of these non-compliant establishments.
Expressing their discontent over the escalating issue of sound pollution resulting from these exuberant music parties, activist Ravi Harmalkar, in collaboration with concerned Anjuna residents, has announced a Mashal rally scheduled for Saturday night. The intention behind this rally is to bring attention to the ongoing predicament and demand appropriate measures.
