Now, late-night loud music to attract heavy penalties

PANAJI
Playing loud music at night hours – beyond 10 pm and without the consent of the authorities will now attract fine upto Rs 1 lakh – if the premise or business establishment is involved in violating the Noise Rules more than two times. This will also include sealing of premises and revocation of consent to operate for a period of three months.

The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) during its Board meeting held on October 7 approved the environmental compensation to be levied for violating noise levels and has also finalised the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to be laid down for compliance.

As per the Board decision, for the first violation, the establishment or the owner will be fined Rs 20,000 while Rs 40,000 for the second violation. The action will also include revocation of consent till the fine is paid.

It was also decided that in cases where there are repeated exceedances and or situations where there is contributory noise from other sources and the Board is unable to attribute the source to a particular establishment being solely responsible for exceedances, the Board will close the premises with acoustic enclosure and double door system so that noise does not travel outside the premises.

Also, steps will be taken in such cases so that the music played in the premises could be transmitted through transmitters and headphones or any other available technology, for which permission is required to be taken additionally from the police, etc.

“The Board officials may monitor the noise by themselves to ascertain any violation, attributing it to particular establishment and may give directions accordingly,” it said.

The Board said that as per rule, loud speaker or a public address system cannot be used except after obtaining written permissions from the authority and are not to be used at night time except in closed premises for communication within, like auditoria, conference rooms, community hall or during public emergency. The Rules further state that 'Night’ means the period between 10.00 pm and 6.00 am.

As per law, the ambient noise quality standard for commercial areas is restricted at 66 dB at day time and 55 dB at night, whereas for residential areas, the noise standards are 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night. For silent zones, the prescribed limit is 50 dB during day and 40dB during night hours.