AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
MHAIRI BEACH, VAGATOR: Villagers from Vagator and Anjuna came together to stop a planned fireworks dis play at the turtle nesting site on Mhairi beach on Sunday evening, ending November 2025 on a positive note. For the first time this year, police responded to locals’ calls and intervened to halt a firecrack er show — though they were unable to curb loud music played past 10 pm in some parts of the village. Suspicions arose around 5 pm when workers began placing boxes on the beach, directly below a hilltop hotel where a wedding reception was scheduled. By 5.30 pm, as the boxes were opened, it became clear they contained fireworks, and word spread quickly across the village. “When it became evident to me that someone had planned fireworks on the beach, I called my superiors and informed them because this is a turtle nesting site,” said turtle guard Sairaj, as signed to the area by the For est Department. Before sunset, villagers started gathering on the beach to see what was hap pening. The first call to the emergency helpline 112 was made at 6.14 pm. “People have weddings in the hotel above and use our beach below to have a fire show,” said local resident Sam Fernandes, the first to ques tion the workers setting up the display. “The workers told me the fireworks were being or ganised for a wedding in the nearby hotel, and they had no idea whether their bosses had taken permission or not,” Fernandes told O Heraldo. Although the Supreme Court of India has not im posed a complete ban on fire works, it has set clear restric tions on their sale and use during festivals. However, the regular fireworks on Mhairi beach have angered locals. “The Supreme Court has al lowed the use of green crack ers during certain times of some festivals. Unfortunate ly, despite the beach being a nesting ground for Olive Ri dley turtles, fireworks are al lowed during weddings host ed by the hotel,” said an upset Ranjit Parsekar.
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As the crowd grew around the firecracker setup, police arrived at 7 pm. After nearly 45 minutes of discussion with the organisers, officers ordered the fireworks to be removed. “We are keeping track of people trying to burst fire crackers on the beach, and even sound decibels are being monitored in the village. We will not allow any violations,” assured Anjuna Police Inspector SurajGauns. According to the Supreme Court, firecrackers are per mitted only between 6–7 am and 8–10 pm on Diwali, with states allowed to set timings for other festivals until year-end. The Court observed: “Aggravated environmental pollution resulting in serious health hazards is pitted against the right to life and the right to carry on a profes sion; as available to the person engaged in the firecrackers industry and their workmen. Bursting firecrackers is an expression of the festive spirit and enhances the mood in religious and other auspicious ceremonies, embedded in the cultural milieu of India. However, that cannot lead to long-term damage to health caused by uncontrollable use based only on traditions and cultural or religious norms. Commercial considerations and festive spirit should take a back seat when it concerns the environment and health.” “I expected the police to confiscate all the firecrackers. Instead, they were only ordered to remove them,” said Fer nandes—satisfied, though not entirely happy. By 8.30 pm, the fireworks had been cleared, and mu sic—within permitted decibel limits—continued at the wedding reception. However, in some parts of the village, police inaction on loud music far exceeding legal limits left locals bewildered. “The police did well by not allowing firecrackers. How ever, they should have used the same yardstick for sound, as that too is a direction from the Supreme Court,” said local resident Maxcy D’Souza.
