PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the police together found only one violation of noise pollution in Goa after one month of the Bombay High Court order. In spite of intimation to the Court the authorities have chosen to look away and not put efforts to curb noise pollution from Electronic Dance Music (EDM) parties.
While the petitioner in the PIL on noise pollution, Sagardeep Sirsaikar, informed that loud music went on unabated all night, the GSPCB even after inspecting thirteen party places found only one violation. This has raised a serious concern over the lacklustre manner in which rule of law is being enforced by the authorities.
Sirsaikar informed that he had personally visited various party places and found loud music being played there. “I called the police to take action against the noise pollution. However, the police reached my home instead of going to the site and booking the offenders,” he said. “Deafening music at various venues would be shut down at 10 pm. But, in an hour loud music was back all night,” he informed.
Sirsaikar informed that loud music was being played at various party venues as recently as January 4, 2023. “Flying squad of Police and GSPCB turn up, but local police are not cooperating at all,” he added.
Even the HC along with ordering a check on sound pollution also clearly directed to check whether the parties had permissions and if there were no permissions the parties had to be stopped. However, because of no cooperation from the Police, the authorities at many parties never got to check on for permissions as they were not allowed inside the venue.
The lawyer representing the GSPCB in HC Pavithran A V has informed that the team inspected thirteen of the fifteen sites that had announced 24-hour EDM parties. “The GSPCB during the inspection found no violation. However, one violation was reported at Marbela Beach Resort, and accordingly, the action was taken,” he informed.
While only one FIR has been filed for violation of the Noise Pollution Rules, GSPCB has said that they did not get support from the police during the inspection of the various venues. “This is an absolute dereliction of duties by the police,” said Pavithran.
Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira, the lawyer for the petitioner in the contempt petition related to Sirsaikar’s PIL said, “I am shocked but not surprised by the order of the HC. The order was very clear. But what surprises me is the passing of the buck between the GSPCB and the police. How GSPCB did not note and act to stop the show seeing the violation.”
