AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
MANDREM/MORJIM/VAGA-TOR: A day after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSP-CB) issued a stern warning that noise pollution beyond permissible limits and timings would not be tolerated, tour-ism stakeholders along the northern coastal belt Mandrem to Anjuna peared largely unfazed. from ap-
On the very first night after the warning by GSPCB chair-man Levinson Martins, music continued to be played well beyond 10 pm. Calls made to the complaint number an-nounced (8956487938) for reporting violations went un-answered.
At Ozrant beach, music lev-els reaching up to 96 decibels could be heard from around five restaurants past the per-missible time and continued till press time. A similar situ ation was reported at at least two establishments in Gaum-wadi, Anjuna, as well as a few spots in South Anjuna.
As the night progressed, traffic along the coastal roads increased and nightlife slowly came alive. As midnight approached, Vagator began wearing its usual party col-ours, with sound levels gradu-ally rising. “The scene is not as chaotic as on other days, but if you wait longer, you will see more action. There is a place that opens at 3 am and shuts only after sunrise,” disclosed a woman selling tea, snacks and cigarettes at Ozran.
A few kilometres away, near
the jetty at Chapora, the dec-ibel meter had crossed 100. People could be seen jostling for entry, with sound norms seemingly thrown into the water.
“They start increasing the volume as the night grows old-er, and it continues till morn-ing,” said Sam Fernandes of Chapora.
He added, “The noise is not as bad as it was yesterday, but wait until tomorrow and everything will start all over again. These bar and restaurant owners do not care be cause they claim they have lined the pockets of authorities.” Despite the warning issued on Tuesday, Forest Depart ment staff were compelled to order the demolition of a stage erected at Gaurewada on Morjim beach. “We are not officers and our role is limited,” said a turtle guard posted along the coast, speaking on condition of an onymity. “At best, we inform our seniors about loud music. There is little we can do if no action is taken against those playing loud music and using bright lights.” For residents living along the coastal belt, especially those at the receiving end of relentless noise pollution, there is little hope of change. “The show is expected to go on because the money involved is too heavy for a bureau crat to handle,” said a local resident. Violations are particularly serious in areas notified as turtle nesting sites, where playing loud music and using bright lights is strictly prohibited. Page 45, Section 1.5 of the Official Central Government Gazette dated January 18, 2019, states that turtle nesting grounds identified by state governments must be protected under the Wildlife (Pro tection) Act, 1972, and that no activities causing light or sound pollution are permitted in or around these areas. “For people running bars and restaurants in notified areas, money is more important than saving endangered species,” said Thomas Fernandes of Vagator. “Olive Ridley turtles are just animals to them.” Fernandes pointed out that loud music and bright lights were used by an establishment near Dream Beach in Vaga tor on Tuesday night. “Despite complaints to all authori ties, no action was taken,” he said. The first Olive Ridley turtle of this season walked ashore Dream Beach on January 18, while in 2025 the first nesting was recorded on January 15. “Every year the situation is getting worse. From the way authorities are responding, it appears that turtles may eventually stop visiting our beaches,” Fernandes feared. Residents also pointed to open defiance of the rules. “There are advertisements across the village announcing parties starting at 9 pm, just an hour before music is re quired to stop. Some of these advertisements are placed right outside the police station,” said Ana Fernandes of Anjuna, who claims to be a long-standing victim of noise pollution
