MARGAO
This runs totally contrary to the Goa government’s much-publicized Prashasan Tumchya Dari (administration to the people’s doorsteps), Saxttikars and citizens in general from South Goa would thunder.
For, people from down south planning to hold tiatrs, or weddings outdoors and intend to use sound are required to travel all the way to Saligao to the office of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) just to deposit Rs 3,000 and obtain a report to pave way for the sound permission.
What’s shocking and surprising to note is that the notification mandating people to deposit the amount with the GSPCB for sound permission for outdoor events had come into force in mid-January last while the Prashasan Tumchea Dari was held in mid-March with much fanfare.
In the past, applicants, who used to get sound permission from the office of Deputy Collectors and SDM from Margao and down south after obtaining the police report are now mandated by the government notification issued in January last, to deposit Rs 3,000 before receiving the permission.
When The Goan called up the office of SDM, Margao to shed light on the hardships faced by the citizens to deposit Rs 3,000 to the GSPCB at Saligao, an official said the office is only implementing the government notification which speaks about the deposit to the GSPCB.
GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro, however, has begged to differ. She has demanded to know why are citizens and applicants for sound permission sent to the GSPCB Saligao office when the payment could be made at the respective taluka headquarters.
“It’s true that the notification calls for depositing Rs 3,000 to the GSPCB. But, the applicants need not travel to the Saligao office to make the payment. The applicants can make the payment in the bank in favour of GSPCB and mention the UTR (unique transaction reference) number on the application form,” Monteiro said.
Questions, however, remain unanswered as to why the GSPCB Member Secretary has to date not sent a circular to the taluka SDMs to stop sending the applicants to Saligao and to guide them to make the bank payment and cite the UTR number on the application form.
On its part, officials of the SDM too have not sought clarification from the GSPCB whether the applicants can make the payment online and mention the UTR number on the application form.
With the season of weddings, tiatrs and other entertainment programmes underway in the State countryside as has been the long tradition, questions are being raised on why the government has failed to intervene and direct the offices of the SDM issuing the permissions and the GSPCB to go by the spirit of the notification and not by its letter.
THIS IS WHAT THE NOTIFICATION SAYS...
MARGAO
The January 13, 2023 notification issued by the Department of Environment and Climatic Change has issued a host of directives including directions that loudspeakers or public address systems or any sound-producing instruments or musical instruments or sound amplifier shall not be used in open areas without the prior permission of the authority prescribed under the rules.
The notification further states that persons requiring the use of loudspeakers have to apply in the prescribed format to the "authority" of the concerned areas at least seven days before the date of use. The "authority", on receipt of the said application, shall undertake an enquiry, as deemed necessary and give permission indicating the conditions to be complied with.
The permission may also be refused, if deemed necessary, indicating the reasons thereof. Authority shall take necessary action for ensuring that the directions indicated above are complied with and in the event of any violation, appropriate action shall be taken as per provisions of the relevant Rules. The application shall be made in Form Annexed as Annexure "C" to the Deputy Collector/Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the concerned taluka.
In case of events involving more than 50 participants, the application shall be forwarded by the authority to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), wherein the applicant shall deposit a fee of Rs 3,000 with the GSPCB.
The GSPCB will prepare a report in the Format Annexed as "Annexure D". The GSPCB will forward the report to the Department of Environment and the department will then after assessment, issue a recommendation to the authority i.e. Collector/Deputy Collector.
No public address system loudspeaker or any sound-producing instrument or a musical instrument or a sound amplifier shall be sold purchased, supplied or used by any manufacturer, dealer or shopkeeper without the installation of a noise limiter in outdoor areas.
In the case of open air venues for marriages, or parties, each venue shall install an online noise level monitoring system and also provide a display board along the periphery of the venue to display the noise levels recorded at the venue for the benefit of the public. Such online system shall be connected to the GSPCB server as well as the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police to monitor the noise levels and ensure compliance to the rules.
Demand to exclude tiatrs, nataks from sound permissions
MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has charged the government for meting out harassment to tiatrists for staging shows.
Addressing the media, the Benaulim MLA said tiatrists are forced to obtain permission from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Member secretary by going all the way to Saligao.
He further demanded that tiatrs and nataks should be excluded from sound permissions “Tiatr and nataks are part of our culture and we should promote it. Government is allowing parties loud trance music shows in the north. There is no noise pollution created by tiatr and nataks,” he said, even he has accused the government for neglecting the people of South Goa.
