MARGAO
It was a day when organisers of dances and events during the Christmas and New Year festivities saw a ray of hope after social media was abuzz with reports stating the government notification grants sound relaxation up to 6 am.
The hope, however, turned into despair after the Director, Science Dasharath Redkar issued a corrigendum, categorically stating the sound relaxation on the notified days is only up to 12 midnight.
For the authorities designated to issue sound permissions, the corrigendum came as a relief as stakeholders have been insisting on granting the sound exemption beyond midnight by citing the government notification allowing use of sound on notified days to 6 am.
Event managers and organisers of dances were indeed upbeat around Thursday noon after city-based lawyer, Adv Radharao Gracias’ statement that the government notification has relaxed sound up to 6 am on the notified days went viral.
In fact, after Radharao’s statement went viral, event managers and dance organisers rushed to the district Collectorate, South to find out the latest position on the sound rules and the government notification, relaxing use of sound on notified days up to 6 am.
Radharao told The Goan that he gave the statement as the government notification spoke of sound relaxation up to 6 am. “On plain reading of the government notification, it was evident that use of sound is relaxed up to 6 in the morning on the notified days, clearing all decks for the authorities to issue the permissions and for the organisers to gear up for the events,” he said.
Commenting on the corrigendum issued by the government later in the day, Radharao said the Director, Science seemed to have rectified the mistake in the notification granting exemption for use of sound up to 6 am. “I have gone through the rules and it is evident that the government can extend sound exemption by two hours up to 12 midnight,” he said.
Radharao, however, said nothing stops the State government to take up the matter with the Centre and give relaxation for use of sound beyond midnight. “If the government wants to extend the sound relaxation beyond midnight on certain days, nothing stops the government from doing so. It is now for the State government to take up the matter with the Centre,” he said.
Events and dance organisers have preferred to keep their fingers crossed as the corrigendum has further cast doubts on obtaining permissions from the authorities to hold the programmes beyond midnight. “The corrigendum seemed to have come as a last straw to our hopes of getting the permission to use sound beyond 12 midnight. We do not know what lies in store for use. Let us wait and see,” remarked a dance organiser.
Another organiser pointed out that they cannot take such a big risk by organising the event as it involves huge cost and hopes of getting the permission till 6 am have now completely receded. “We will take a call how to go about the situation,” he added.
