AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
VAGATOR: To help the affected people to provide police with proof on time-bound basis and hold violators responsible for lapses, a petitioner is going to plead before the Bombay High Court at Goa that the online live noise monitoring system reading be made accessible to the public.
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The matter will come up for hearing today, January 13.
“If the people have access to the username and password of the domain accessed by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) it will help all affected provide the police with proof on time bound basis and thus hold violators responsible for lapses,” argued Desmond Alvares, petitioner of the Contempt Petition 12 of 2023.
Seven units within the jurisdiction of the Anjuna Panchayat have been instructed by the High Court to install live noise monitoring systems.
The readings accessed show that the Supreme Court order of noise decibels to be maintained is still violated with impunity by those who have installed the systems.
From amongst these seven , the High Court had through its order uploaded on December 18, 2024, stated: “However, considering that the establishments are carrying on the business by employing a large number of staff and workers, the entire closure of the business will have drastic consequences and hence Respondent No, 13 ( Diaz Pool club & Bar), 14 ( Noah, Goa) and 15 (Thalassa, Vaddy, Siolim ) though may continue to operate their business , the same should be without playing any music.”
Although Diaz Pool Club and Bar was playing music during the weekend of January 11, 2025, the website displayed that it is disconnected 75 per cent of the time.
“Though they were not as noisy as before, we had to call the police and complain about the noise from Ber which is a new place. After a long time, the police came around nine thirty pm and shut their music,” said Agnes D’Souza from Anjuna.
Thalassa at Vaddy in Siolim was showing on the GSPCB website an LEQ of 100 between January 11 and 12, 2025. LEQ, is the equivalent continuous sound level – a measurement used in sound monitoring systems to describe the average noise level over a period of time.
“It is now becoming clear that people patronise these places for their loud music instead of their food or else, how come they are not following the High Court orders to function without playing music,” wondered Michel Fernandes.
House of Chapora, which was sealed and later de-sealed by GSPCB on the assurance that they would play music only indoors, recorded LEQ levels on the GSPCB website of noise levels in Maharashtra instead of around its setting in Chapora.
“These units will try to bend and twist as many criteria set down by the High Court because they are into the business of drawing clients because of the type of music they play and that music cannot be enjoyed with decent sound. It has to be loud, and the listeners’ brain bloated,” said Dwayne from England, who thinks tourism is not about noise.
Disturbing trend: Fireworks lit up the sky
metres away from Morjim turtle nesting site
MORJIM: Over 200 metres away from the turtle nesting site on Morjim beach at 10.30 pm, the sky was lit up with fireworks and followed by the loud noise disturbing the residents.
If the lights and loud noise of fireworks is a no-no around the turtle nesting site, the music at a few places in the hinterland of Arambol did not appear to disturb the locals.
Unlike in Agonda, the barricades at the turtle nesting site in Morjim are yet to be installed with three turtles having already walked ashore and laid eggs. The shack closest to the turtle guard hut was brightly lit at 10.30 pm.
Unlike Vagator and Anjuna, music over 45 decibels was recorded at two places in Arambol and most places around Junaswaddo and Ashvem in Mandrem had only restaurants open, serving food.
“Parties are held once in a while, but they do not disturb our sleep as we hear no noise. They play near the sweet water lake where no one resides. We know of parties through the movement of vehicles,” says Rohidas Malik with a smile.
“I received no complaints from the turtle guards in Morjim complaining about noise from fireworks. If they do, I will act,” stated Mandrem PI Sheriff Jacques. “The police station is not in receipt of any complaint regarding noise pollution from any local,” Jacques added.
