PANJIM: With the Bombay High Court at Goa directing the State government to ensure silent nights, this year, no loud music beyond 12 am will be permitted on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Moreover, there will be no use of loud speakers beyond 10 pm on New Year’s Day.
Earlier, the State government had permitted the use of loud speakers or public address systems during night hours from 10 pm to 6 am on 17 occasions this year. However, now with the High Court directing the authorities to act against violators playing loud music beyond 10 pm without permission, the government has amended the relaxation.
Environment Director Dasharath Redkar on Thursday issued corrigendum to the notification issued on February 7, 2022, wherein it had allowed use of loud speakers and public address systems from 10 pm upto midnight at 17 days.
As per corrigendum, the authority has now omitted Easter Day and New Year Day from the relaxation and as such, music will be allowed only till 10 pm.
Also, Redkar said that the relaxation permitted till 6 am is now withdrawn and same is allowed till 12 am only on the rest 15 days including the upcoming Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
The corrigendum states that “the time during night hours from 10 pm to 6 am mentioned, may be substituted to read as from 10 pm to 12 am.”
The government relaxation is applicable on the day of Carnival, Holi, the second day of Ganesh idol immersion, the fifth day of idol immersion, Anant Chaturdashi, the first and last day of Navratri, Kojagiri Purnima, Diwali eve and Diwali, Tripurari/Kartiki Purnima, Christmas Eve and Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Meanwhile former MLA Adv Radharao Gracias has urged the authorities to grant licences to organisers to hold Christmas Eve dances and Christmas dances across the State between midnight and 6 am as per the notification.
Speaking to reporters, Adv Gracias said that there appears to be some confusion in the minds of the people regarding the use of amplified music and loudspeakers during the above events after midnight.
He said that Notification issued by the Department of Environment and Climate Change in February 2022 clearly states that 17 cultural/religious festivals are exempted from the general law on use of music beyond 10 pm and that loud music and amplified sound be played between midnight and 6 am.
“I don’t see why no permissions are granted. I do hope that the government and Collectors, Deputy Collectors and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) will take note of the notification issued by the State government and without further hassles issue licences to the organisers. It is important such licences be issued to organisers so that the general public is aware of what are the functions available for them to enjoy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Panjim Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rajesh Ajgaonkar has issued a show cause notice to a restaurant located at Campal for playing loud music beyond 10 pm.
Following a complaint by one Sanjay Sarmalkar of Panjim, the SDM has issued notices to both the parties asking them to appear before him on December 23. The Panjim resident has complained that the restaurant is playing loud music beyond 10 pm causing noise pollution to the residents.
