MAPUSA
Loud music has come to haunt Moira locals again but this time it was from the open air dance venue belonging to Associacao Academica de Moira, popularly known as Moira Sports Club.
Objecting to the loud music played beyond the official timings and sometimes till wee hours of the morning, affected citizens wrote to Moira panchayat requesting it to refuse permission to hold functions at the open air dance venue.
“This is a residential area. We are terribly affected by the loud music during the functions held at the open air venue,” said Florence Mendes, raising the issue at the gram sabha on Sunday.
“Nuisance is also created by the intoxicated people who attend the function by way of loud greetings, blaring vehicle horns, beer cans and bottles, food paper plates, empty cigarette packets etc that are strewn all over in our compounds,” she continued.
According to Mendes senior citizens living in the area suffered the most on account of loud music.
Acknowledging the concerns of the residents, Moira Sports Club, President, Joseph D’Souza, however, defended the club’s right to hold functions.
“It was agreed and discussed that if we are holding any function we shall follow the official timings,” D’Souza said.
“We abide by the law and take permission from the deputy collector and the police,” he said.
Pointing to the practical problems, Mendes pointed out when complaints were made of loud music, organisers would reduce the volume when the police arrived but once they left the music was put on at full blast again.
Maintaining that no one had right to disrupt life of the residents, Brendan Mendes said the club patrons can make the club sound proof and party till late night. “We are objecting to open air loud music. We are not against the small cultural functions during the Diwali or Christmas,” he said.
Another office bearer of
the club, Darren Lobo objected to the selective targeting of the club.
“We are living in multi-cultural society. We fire crackers during church feasts, Chaturthi, Diwali etc. Why blame only the club,” Lobo defended.
A few other gram sabha members batted for the club and suggested that the club should be allowed to hold functions provided they follow the timing. With both sides remaining firm to their stand, the gram sabha remained inconclusive on the issue.
“Some rules were violated and citizens have raised an objection. We wanted to arrive at some compromise but were unsuccessful,” said Oswald Cordeiro, a panch member.
