Team Herald
PANJIM: Taking cognisance of the hardship faced by the citizens, especially tiatrists and other event organisers in obtaining sound permission for tiatr shows and outdoor events, the State government is in the process of amending the State Action Plan for noise mapping and monitoring to simplify the consent process.
O Heraldo extensively reported on the issue for the government to take notice. Reports had recently highlighted how the rules applicable under the action plan on noise pollution have impacted the staging of tiatrs in villages and other cultural events. The applicant was compelled to personally travel to the office of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) at Saligao to get the clearance, which resulted in major hardships for tiatrists and organisers, besides several others for holding cultural events and wedding receptions.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that he will inquire into the matter with the GSPCB and take necessary measures.
When contacted, the GSPCB chairman Mahesh Patil said that the government is aware about the hardship faced by the citizens, but currently, everyone is bound to follow the rules as per action plan.
Patil said that Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral has issued directions to redraft the Action plan and the same is under process.
“We are reworking the plan, wherein efforts would be to see that only one Authority grants permission for outdoor events. Also, we are considering granting one-year permission to every organiser with annual renewals, if required,” he explained.
Patil also said that organisers would be directed to install online noise level meters, which would be directly linked with the Board.
As per the procedure laid down in the plan, the persons requiring the use of loudspeakers have to submit an application in prescribed format to the “authority”- Deputy Collector of the concerned areas at least seven days before the date of use. The “Authority”, on receipt of the said application, shall undertake inquiry, as deemed necessary, and give permission indicating the conditions to be complied with. The permission may also be refused, if deemed necessary, indicating the reasons thereof. The application shall be made in Form Annexed as Annexure “C” to the Deputy Collector/ /Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the concerned taluka.
In the case of events/functions/programmes involving more than 50 participants, the application is forwarded by the Authority to the GSPCB. The Applicant has to deposit a fee of Rs 3,000/event/programme/functions with the GSPCB.
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Can’t sons of the soil tiatrists follow all sound rules
without hardships?
Stating that tiatr deserves special treatment and recognition with regard to the facilities, tiatr enthusiasts on Wednesday called for relaxing the rules on noise pollution.
On the other hand, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has clarified that tiatrists and tiatr organisers need not travel to Saligao to get the clearances, instead pay the fees online.
When contacted, Anthony Barbosa, a tiatr promoter from Raia said that he has high hopes that the government will surely grant relaxation to the tiatrists and tiatr organisers for staging the shows with regard to noise pollution.
“Tiatr is our tradition and we need to encourage tiatr at every level. The hardships faced by tiatrists and tiatr organisers with regard to staging tiatr shows pertaining to sound permissions is a serious issue and we all need to try our best to resolve it,” he said.
Barbosa also informed that several tiatrists had approached him with their grievances upon which the issue was discussed with the ministers concerned.
Barbosa informed that he met Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude and urged that relaxation be given to stage tiatr shows in villages, besides theatre-related activities.
“I have high hopes that the demands of the tiatrists will be fulfilled very soon,” said Barbosa.
Meanwhile, Shamila Monteiro, GSPCB Member Secretary told reporters that the applicant for staging tiatr shows in villages and other events need not come to Saligao to pay the fees or to get the clearance for sound permission.
She said that they can pay fees online, besides sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) can e-mail the application form with a unique transaction reference (UTR) number process for approving the permission.
