MAPUSA
The silence was striking – and for residents along the Anjuna–Vagator coastal belt, almost unbelievable.
For the first time in memory, the State’s most notorious nightlife stretch witnessed a relatively quiet Saturday night, a rare break from the pounding basslines that usually define weekends in this popular music zone.
Despite packed clubs and a long Republic Day weekend promising bumper business, loud music largely subsided after 10 pm, bringing unexpected relief to long-suffering locals.
Apart from a handful of exceptions, most restaurants-cum-nightclubs either switched off amplified music or sharply reduced volumes, transforming what is normally a cacophony into a subdued, almost peaceful night.
“This is something we never expected, especially on a long weekend. The music started loud around 6 pm, but by 8 pm it had reduced significantly. From midnight till early Sunday morning, there was hardly any sound. For the first time, everything was silent,” said Desmond Alvares, Assagao resident and a prominent campaigner against noise pollution.
Packed clubs, lower volumes
The calm was all the more surprising given the aggressive advertising blitz by several nightclubs in the days leading up to the Republic Day weekend, promising “non-stop music” and “endless parties” to cash in on the three-day holiday.
Friday night, in contrast, followed the familiar script. Music blared well into the night, reinforcing fears that Saturday would spiral into a competitive noise battle. Instead, locals say, the volume dipped dramatically.
Alvares said the Goa State Pollution Control Board did a good job and also credited sustained media focus for the change.
“The consistent reportage by The Goan has clearly had an impact. There was pressure, and it showed on the ground,” he said, while cautiously adding, “The real test is whether this continues on Sunday and Monday.”
Relief, but not without violations
Residents elsewhere along the belt echoed similar sentiments, though with guarded optimism.
Vagator resident Jawish Moniz acknowledged that overall noise levels were lower but alleged selective violations.
“Compared to earlier weekends, it was much better. But a few notorious clubs were still blasting music till Sunday morning. Places like House of Chapora, 9 Bar, Salud and Dynamo were in full flow,” he said.
Moniz, who is part of a citizen vigil group tracking noise pollution and other coastal violations, warned against premature celebration.
“One quiet night doesn’t solve the problem. Enforcement has to be consistent, not selective,” he said.
In Anjuna, resident Pradeep Harmalkar described the night as “unusually calm”. “We were expecting total chaos, with clubs trying to outdo each other. Instead, after 10 pm it was much quieter. It felt relaxing – something we haven’t experienced in years,” he said.
GSPCB steps up monitoring
MAPUSA: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), which had intensified monitoring after highlighting of aggressive party promotions, confirmed it received 29 complaints through its registered helpline on Saturday night.
Of these, 18 related specifically to loud music from restaurants and nightclubs, while 11 pertained to other noise-related issues.
“All complaints were immediately forwarded to the police for necessary action,” a GSPCB official said, adding that noise exceedances recorded by installed meters after 10 pm from January 22 onwards stood at 34.
GSPCB chairman Levinson Martins stressed the need for sustained enforcement.
“This effort has to continue. The police and the Deputy Collector – who are notified authorities under the Noise Pollution Rules – must act firmly to ensure that music does not continue beyond 10 pm,” he said.
Martins added that additional monitoring teams had been deployed for Sunday and Monday.
“I have specifically directed intensified surveillance for the remaining holiday period,” he said.
For now, the Anjuna–Vagator belt has offered a rare glimpse of what compliance could look like.
Whether this calm marks a turning point – or proves to be a fleeting pause before business-as-usual – remains the million-dollar question.
As one resident put it quietly on Sunday morning: “Last night showed it can be done. The question is – will they let it last?”
