The ongoing crackdown on sound violations, including the sealing of premises and the imposition of fines, is appreciated and highlights the Goa State Pollution Control Board’s determination in drawing the line. However, the action will need a closer scrutiny, especially given the scale of violations across Goa.
The GSPCB has cracked down on a few nightclubs in recent days. Morjim’s Royal Tomato, a prominent nightclub, was slapped with a 2-month shutdown and a Rs 21 lakh environmental compensation for violating sound rules when real-time data showed that the club exceeded permissible noise levels 70 times between January and February this year. Another known outlet — Kiki By the Sea at Assagao, was sealed by authorities. Yet another popular nightclub, the Diaz Club in Anjuna, was directed to stop operations immediately. Hill Top & Salud (Anjuna) were also sealed over sound violations.
These steps of scanning outlets for violations and taking punitive action are welcome because they send a strong message to habitual offenders. However, the selective enforcement raises questions about consistency and fairness, both of which are crucial in establishing a belief in the system.
While a few clubs have been penalised, hundreds of others, which are in clear violation of not only noise norms, but also do not have the required permissions in place, and those who have been put on notice, have been continuing business with impunity. The disconnect between enforcement against some and leniency towards others suggests a double standard. Selective action raises doubt of political manoeuvring, and once again, the discourse veers around corruption.
The law mandates a 10 pm cutoff for amplified music, and the Pollution Control Board chairman was amply clear about it in media interactions recently. The downside here is that while weddings have been following deadlines religiously with venue operators and organisers fearing a clampdown, nightclubs and restaurants have been having a blast. No questions asked. It was reported that this weekend saw venues such as Jungle Origen, Aura Beach Café, and others along the beach belts hosting all-night parties despite police presence.
This pattern continues to expose a systemic flaw of superficial enforcement and a hollow resolve, bringing to nought the bravado shown by the GSPCB. The discrepancy between clampdown calls for a need of an accountable system. The larger messaging appears to be for optics rather than setting the house in order. You can’t have two sets of rules or different yardsticks for the same violations. If weddings are forced to shut down due to time restrictions, the same must apply to nightclubs.
The merry-go-round on sound violations has come full circle once again. In this context, the Goa State Pollution Control Board should publish a weekly bulletin detailing violations detected and actions taken. Such reportage would help on two counts: One, to establish the fact that the board is doing justice to its job; and second, it will bring to light the systemic failures once again. At least clarity will emerge, and based on this data, the police and other enforcement authorities could be held accountable.
Authorities must reinforce their commitment to fair enforcement; otherwise, we will end up having a strict rule on paper and a farce playing out on the ground. We don’t need headline-grabbing patchy action, but a consistent round-the-clock vigilance that will help to restore public confidence in enforcement.
