PANAJI
The State police have often been at the centre of debate regarding noise pollution control, especially when coordination with other government agencies was a concern until last year.
Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel had exposed discrepancies in permissions for the Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival in December 2022, citing violations in sound permissions due to a lack of coordination between the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in his affidavit before the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Authorities are now making efforts to stay out of the judiciary's scrutiny. This festive season, senior officials claimed, several hundred policemen will be deployed along the coastal belt to ensure a smooth event sans untoward incidents and violations. So also, the cops will be armed with alcometers and drug detection kits at the venues including Sunburn.
Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Nidhin Valsan has assured that all stringent measures will be in place to crack down on the violators and ensure safety of the party attendees as well as the residents.
Valsan however stated that, statutory rules regarding sound will be enforced. The government recently formed Joint Special Cells in both the districts with its district collectors as chairpersons, to monitor noise pollution and other aspects while granting permission for such events.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Anjuna) Jivba Dalvi echoed his superiors stance, adding that all high court directives will be followed.
The department, officers said, is also ensuring that traffic snarls, drunken driving and crimes such as thefts are under control during this period.
"Staff will be deployed in coastal areas depending upon the crowd and apprehension of law and order. Ten alcometers with local police and an additional number will be used by the traffic police. For Sunburn, drug detection teams comprising of Crime Branch, Anti Narcotics Cell and forensic narcotics experts will be present at the venue," Valsan added.
"Traffic police and local police together will ensure that no traffic rules are violated," he further said.
Dalvi said that they are putting mechanisms in place to ensure thefts of belongings do not occur. "Every year is a learning lesson for us. We are further strengthening traffic management and also creating awareness among visitors cautioning them to take care of their belongings," he said.
Several tourists had last year complained to the police that their high-end mobile phones were stolen while at the party venues or in crowded places. The phones worth lakhs of rupees were later recovered, vehicles used for the crime seized and accused arrested.
