PANAJI
The Narkasur celebrations were already gathering volume across Goa on Saturday, with loud music blaring from streets and competition venues, when the High Court of Bombay at Goa delivered an order that organisers could hardly ignore -- no music on loudspeakers or sound amplifiers anywhere in the State after midnight.
An urgent vacation-bench, hearing noise-pollution concerns, directed the Superintendents of Police and District Collectors of North and South Goa to ensure that Goa government's undertaking on the noise curfew was followed without exception. The restriction remained in force from midnight on November 7 till 6 am on November 8.
The bench had also made it clear that authorities cannot merely shut down offending sound systems and move on.
“If they detect any violation, they must initiate prompt action and immediately send the names of those responsible to the High Court Registry for further judicial action,” it said, as the urgent hearing came on a petition filed by a senior citizen seeking enforcement of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, particularly during festivals.
The petitioner had sought interim directions for authorities to monitor and regulate noise levels on Saturday evening, when Narkasur celebrations draw large crowds and music accompanies competitions across Goa.
Following the order, Goa Police issued a statewide appeal to Narkasur competition organisers, commercial establishments, venue operators and the public, warning that anyone found using sound systems during the prohibited hours would face prompt police action under the law.
The police statement also stressed that officials must report the names of violators directly to the High Court Registry, in addition to taking action against them.
