KATHY PEREIRA
If unregulated nightlife has been drawing flak along the Calangute coast, it is now cause of concern to residents along the Canacona coast. Locals claim that dance parties and late-night music have become so frequent at most beaches in Canacona that there is at least one night party organised daily.
Some of the late night parties are prominently advertised in the taluka, with posters and pamphlets even affixed on trees along the roadside but officials at the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) and Agonda panchayat, the two local bodies which have prominent beaches in their jurisdiction, have confirmed that no permission has been given to the night parties.
“These wild night parties see other unfortunate occurrences,” a social worker told Herald. “The recent attempt by a rickshaw driver to rape a foreign tourist while she was returning from a night party, brawls at the venues and road accidents are some of the adverse effects of the unregulated nightlife.”
The brawls and fights are rarely reported to the police to prevent backlash from rival groups. “Previously due to stiff implementation of late night music rules, only one tourism entrepreneur used to organize a weekly “headphone or silent party”, where customers were given headphones to eliminate noise pollution and disturbance in the area. This trend was also started by some other entrepreneurs, but eventually this form of entertainment fizzled out and full-blown and loud music/trance night parties returned to Palolem,” a resident of Palolem said.
One restaurant at Palolem beach, known for night parties almost every day, is also a popular spot for late-night partygoers. At Agonda, one organizer is known to hold nightlong weekly parties in a forest area, with loud music echoing across the valley.
“The blaring music and fireworks at Keri disturbs residents in our locality and we hope someone will do something to stop this nuisance,” said a resident of Val-Aframent, Agonda.
Fernando Fernandes of Agonda added, “The worrisome thing is that a growing number of youth and other locals are getting addicted to this kind of life. There are also allegations that drugs are freely being circulated at these late-night parties.”
“The taluka administration should not only take strong note of such activities, but the officials should also take steps to stop them, as they threaten to destroy our social fabric,” Fernandes added.
Residents have claimed that most late-night parties are being organized by non-residents and foreign nationals.
To prove this, residents point to posters in foreign languages which have been pasted at prominent places, including the KRC bridge and the NH-17 highway.
“The same foreign language was noticed at a house in southern Canacona, reportedly occupied by a foreign couple,” said a resident.
When asked if the CMC had granted permission to night parties, CMC Chairman Simon Rebello replied in the negative. “The CMC has not issued a single licence or NOC for night parties in its jurisdiction. However, I am unaware if any other government agencies have accorded permissions to organize the several weekly music and dance parties being prominently advertised in the area. It is for authorities concerned to keep a tab on such happenings,” Rebello said.
When contacted, a source at the Agonda Panchayat also stated that no permission had been granted to organize late night music or dance parties in the village.
