Team Herald
PANJIM: The State will ‘officially’ play loudspeakers for 15 days this year, on festival occasions, at 10 different festivities.
The department of environment has released this year’s calendar, permitting loudspeakers till midnight that is from 10 pm to 12 pm. No loud music or sound is otherwise permitted in the coastal State after 10 pm.
The list includes the last day of Carnival event, which will be held on February 25.
The other 14 days are Holi on March 9, Easter Eve on April 11, the second and fifth day of Ganesh Chaturthi idol immersion (August 23 and August 26), and Anant Chaturdashi on September 1.
Loudspeakers are allowed late night on the first (October 17) and the last date (October 24) of the Navaratri festival, on Kojagiri Pornima on October 30, Diwali Eve (November 13) and Diwali (November 14).
Tripurari poornima on November 29 is also included in the list.
Loudspeakers can be played late night on Christmas Eve and on Christmas and New Year.
The ‘authority’ concerned that is the Goa State Pollution Control Board, has been directed to monitor the noise levels during the permitted festive occasion and take prompt remedial action in the event of any violation of the conditions.
