MAPUSA
While the playing of loud music after 10 pm has reduced bringing much cheer among the residents, hoteliers and night clubs are virtually grappling with the new normal of going about their business without late-night music.
Several stakeholders said completely banning music after 10 pm will kill tourism in the State and tourists who flocked to Goa because of nightlife and especially music will move away to other destinations.
“Complete ban on playing music after 10 pm will adversely affect tourism for sure. We need to find a way where we allow the music to be played at proper decibels which will not disturb the others around. We need to understand that both of us have to come together and find a middle ground where the residents and the hoteliers can live harmoniously,” said Ninil D’Souza, proprietor of Bottle Bay restaurant at Baga, Calangute.
He said hoteliers and nightclubs can play a good volume of music without putting a huge sound system and blasting their way through the night and disturbing other people’s peace.
“But music should be allowed with proper guidelines so that the tourism industry is not affected,” he said.
One of the reasons why the High Court has clamped down on playing loud music is that some people have abused the relaxation granted to play music late in the night with many along the coastline competing with one another to play the loudest.
This has led to many people registering complaints against the offenders with the authorities and when the authorities, mainly the police, failed to get their act together to stop the menace of loud music, some public-spirited individuals approached the High Court for relief.
“This is bad for tourism. People feel so frustrated because there is no music after 10 pm. It’s definitely affecting our business and also other people who survive on thriving tourism trade such as musicians,” said Christopher D’Souza, proprietor of Stone House restaurant in Candolim.
He said the bad boys among the stakeholders particularly the shack operators have brought a bad name to the playing of decent and delightful music by blasting their way throughout the night and thereby extracting the wrath of the residents.
“The shack operators don’t even know what music is. They think the louder they play the better it is. In most cases, the owner does not even pay for the music. I am the only one who loves to play my music and I am known for playing some good blues,” said D’Souza, who has been featured in the Lonely Planet travel guide manual.
The proprietor of Villa Calangute Resort, Dexter D’Souza said that everyone agrees there should not be loud music but the problem is how to draw the line on loud music.
He said recently he was fined because some guests in his resort played loud music on ‘Alexa’ even when no loudspeakers were used.
“People are misunderstanding the rule that music has to be stopped at 10 pm. Now, because of the 10 pm deadline even if the guest is playing soft music, locals are shouting. It’s not correct. There has to be some permissible level to play music which is allowed by law,” D’Souza said.
He said several guests have already started complaining that parties have been stopped in Goa and expressed unhappiness about the development.
