Salcete cops make people dance to their tunes

MARGAO, MAY 10
There appears no uniformity in the implementation of sound pollution norms in Salcete taluka. The men-in-uniform seem to have different yardsticks to different people depending on the area and the godfathers behind the events.
If Salcete’s coastal belt reverberates to the beats of loud music, organisers of shows and weddings are completely at the mercy of the Goa police to grant them a few additional hours or minutes to wind up the event.
Take the case of Chinchinim village. The Cuncolim police ensure that all weddings and musical shows and the traditional tiatr winds by 10 pm as per the sound pollution norms. The police justify the action, as matter on sound pollution control from the village is pending in the High Court and the men-in-uniform have made it a rule to crack a whip against use of sound beyond 10 pm.
Interestingly, there appears no sound control across the River Sal along the coastline as evident by playing of loud music past midnight almost every day.
The recent incident in the Commercial capital is another example on the lack of uniformity in dealing with sound pollution norms. Eyewitnesses disclosed that a PSI attached to Margao police climbed the dais at a musical festival and disconnected the microphone when the show was underway.
The organisers were forced to call off the show, but not before inviting the ire of the music lovers who gave vent anger to the police action against the chairs and other items.
Not long ago, an All Goa festival was organised at the BPS Club grounds for three days, which surprisingly received no action from the men-in-uniform. This despite the fact that the BPS Club ground is a silent zone where playing of any music is prohibited due to close proximity of the Hospicio hospital.
Instances are galore when police men swoop down on open dance floors in Salcete to stop playing of music beyond 10 pm, but the same policemen turns a deaf ear to weddings of prominent personalities despite calls made to the police control room.
Says a senior police officer: “How do we expect policemen to act when the Chief Minister is personally participating in an event well past midnight. The policemen are normally caught in a tight spot when the events are patronised by the political bigwigs”.