MAPUSA
Despite clear directions from the High Court of Bombay at Goa, both Anjuna Police and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) have failed to maintain CCTV footage of clubs and restaurants along the coastal belt – a crucial measure mandated to monitor noise pollution and law enforcement compliance.
An RTI inquiry has revealed that the Anjuna Police has no CCTV footage from any venue or restaurant within its jurisdiction between August 1 and October 3, 2025. Similarly, the GSPCB, which is also responsible for maintaining CCTV footage records of licensed establishments, admitted to not having any footage for the same period.
The High Court, in its order on Contempt Petition No 12 of 2023 related to noise pollution, had explicitly directed that all establishments along the coastal belt must retain CCTV footage for at least 30 days.
The court had further ordered that the footage be stored on both a physical hard disk and backed up on a cloud-based platform.
The order also made it mandatory for: All venues to ensure uninterrupted power supply to CCTV systems, weekly reports on CCTV functionality to be submitted to the local police station and forwarded to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and licensing authorities to make CCTV compliance a condition for granting or renewing licences, covering both indoor and outdoor areas of each establishment.
However, the latest RTI findings suggest that these directives are not being followed raising serious questions about enforcement and accountability.
“This is a clear case of contempt of court. The High Court’s directions were unambiguous. The authorities, including the police and GSPCB, must be held accountable for their failure to comply. This lapse effectively shields violators who continue to flout noise norms,” said Desmond Alvares, a local activist and long-time campaigner against noise pollution.
Meanwhile, despite the court orders and growing public anger, clubs and restaurants along the Anjuna–Vagator coastal belt continued to play loud music through the Halloween weekend, disturbing residents in nearby villages.
Several locals said they were forced to call the authorities to complain about the noise, but no effective action was taken.
Apart from the blaring music, residents also complained of severe traffic congestion and chaotic parking as partygoers thronged the narrow village roads.
“The situation has become unbearable. We are not against tourism or parties, but there must be respect for law and for those who live here. The High Court’s orders are being openly violated and no one seems to care,” said one local resident.
Despite repeated High Court warnings, enforcement agencies appear to be turning a blind eye, allowing nightlife hotspots to operate without fear of accountability – leaving villagers questioning whether the court’s directives are being taken seriously at all.
