MAPUSA
North Goa Superintendent of Police Shobit Saxena (IPS) on Saturday said that complaints of loud music have reduced in the coastal belt after police organised a meeting with all stakeholders to explain the rules on noise pollution.
Saxena also said that all police stations have been provided with decibel meters to monitor noise pollution and police officers have been trained on how to use these machines.
“The calls for loud music have reduced drastically in the coastal belt after a meeting was held with the stakeholders in Calangute, Anjuna and Pernem. We advised all those who are involved in tourism activities the rules regarding loud music,” Saxena said.
The SP was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a function at the Mapusa Police Station.
Continuing, Saxena said that many of the tourism stakeholders were not aware of the rules of loud music and assured to comply with the law.
“Nonetheless, police respond to complaints against loud music and deal with them as per law. In case of habitual offenders, we have a legal provision under the Environment Protection Act to take action against them,” he said.
Denying claims that police were not provided with calibrated decibel meters to monitor the sound, he said that all police stations were provided with decibel meters and the police personnel were trained on how to use the machines.
“It’s wrong to say that police stations do not have decibel meters. All police stations have such machines and the Police Inspectors are trained to use these,” Saxena said.
A senior administrative officer of the Goa civil cadre, however, differed with the claims of the SP and said the police stations may have got the decibel meters but they were not calibrated.
“Ask the police officers to provide a calibration certificate for the decibel meters. They will not have one. So the sound measured on such meters will never stand the scrutiny of the law,” the senior officer said, requesting anonymity.
In the meanwhile, hotels along the coastal belt cocked a snook at the authorities and the law while continuing to play loud music.
During the weekends, hotels along the coastal belt especially in Anjuna were belting out loud music much to the chagrin of residents in the area.
