MAPUSA
The party advertisements promise celebrations stretching from dusk to dawn. The law, however, says the music must stop at 10 pm.
With nightclubs and restaurants across the Anjuna-Vagator belt gearing up for a packed Independence Day weekend, that contradiction is set to be tested once again, with the Bardez Deputy Collector’s office maintaining that music permissions are routinely issued to establishments with a clear condition that music must stop at 10 pm.
The office, however, does not have readily available figures on how many establishments in the coastal belt have sought such permissions.
Deputy Collector Anant Malik said granting permission to play music was a routine exercise, with all the applicable conditions incorporated in the NOC issued to establishments.
“We are bound to issue permissions to these establishments as routine business. One of the conditions is that they have to shut down music after the 10 pm deadline,” Malik said.
The official position leaves a glaring question as the Independence Day weekend approaches: If the permission is only to play music up to 10 pm, how do establishments advertising parties from dusk to dawn reconcile their event plans with the stipulated cut-off?
Across Anjuna, Vagator and adjoining areas, nightclubs and restaurants have been promoting their Independence Day programmes from August 13 onwards, with several advertising multi-day celebrations and announcing DJs and singers who will perform during the weekend.
The official procedure for obtaining sound permission in North Goa specifies that applications made to the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate are for use of loudspeakers up to 10 pm.
Malik said his office, after issuing the permission with the stipulated conditions, has no role in taking action if an establishment violates the noise rules or continues playing music beyond the permitted time.
“If anyone breaks the law on noise pollution, it’s the role of the police to take action,” he said.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board has also maintained that amplified music cannot continue beyond the 10 pm cut-off and that action can be taken against establishments violating prescribed noise limits or timings.
This distinction assumes significance in Anjuna and Vagator, where residents have repeatedly complained about loud music emanating from commercial establishments, particularly during weekends, holidays and major events.
The approaching Independence Day weekend is likely to put the enforcement mechanism under renewed scrutiny.
