MAPUSA
The issue of loud music is not limited to the Anjuna-Vagator coastal belt but also heavily impacts the popular Candolim-Calangute-Baga coastline.
Local residents find themselves resigned to enduring noise pollution as authorities remain largely unresponsive.
Bollywood music dominates this stretch of the coastline, with nightclubs, restaurants, and beach shacks blasting tunes to the frustration of both local residents and some patrons. According to Calangute resident Ranjana Saudhagar, establishments, especially along Tito’s Lane, frequently exceed the stipulated noise curfew.
“During the elections, they adhered to the 10 pm deadline. However, after May 7, most commercial units resumed playing loud music past 10 pm. Downtown, a nightclub in Calangute, has been playing music until 6 am,” stated Saudhagar, a member of the High Court Noise Monitoring Committee.
Despite numerous complaints to the police and other authorities, efforts to control noise pollution have been futile.
“Calangute Police have stopped picking up my phone calls. I have even complained to North Goa Magistrate Sneha Gitte (IAS) but to no avail,” Saudhagar lamented.
The shacks on Baga beach are particularly notorious for their loud music, significantly disrupting local life.
Surprisingly, John Lobo, a shack operator on Baga beach, revealed that he has been lodging complaints about the noise for 15 years without any success.
“I have complained to the Collector, Deputy Collector, Police, Ministers, and even MLAs, but nothing has changed. With no solution in sight, I adopted the adage, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them,’ and started playing loud music in my shack too,” Lobo admitted.
A recent trend has emerged in the Calangute-Baga area, where restaurants and shacks blast music from 6 pm to 10 pm, then lower the volume after 10 pm. “After 10 pm, there are fewer places playing loud music, but before 10 pm, the noise is unbearable on the beach. Everyone is pumping out 15,000 to 20,000 watts of music,” Lobo disclosed.
Fr Shanon Pereira, Director of Baga Retreat House, concurred with Lobo’s observation.
“For the last month, after 10 pm, the noise has decreased, likely due to the election code of conduct. But between 6 to 10 pm, the noise is terrible. It wasn’t this loud in previous years. Things are getting worse,” Fr Pereira recounted.
The scourge of loud music also affects Candolim, though the situation there may not be as severe as in other areas.
“There is noise pollution in Candolim, with several commercial units playing music beyond 10 pm, but it’s not as bad as other areas,” confirmed Francoise D’Souza, a Candolim resident and member of the High Court Noise Monitoring Committee.
As we move from the Anjuna coastal belt to the Candolim-Calangute-Baga area, it’s clear that the loud music issue remains pervasive. Residents continue to struggle with noise pollution while authorities’ efforts to address the problem appear insufficient.
