THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: It may not be entirely legal but it’s surely novel and more importantly, it’s paying off.
For the last seven days, a group of youth managed to stop music after 10 pm along the coastal belt of Baga in Calangute, something which the police were unable to do.
Locals including shack owners from Sauntha-vaddo in Baga got together and began monitoring music played after 10 pm and managed to persuade owners to stop late night music in all business establishments in Baga.
“For the last seven days, there’s complete silence after 10 pm along the Baga coastal belt. Around 25 of us move around and appeal to owners of shacks and other establishments to adhere to the High Court order and stop playing loud music,” said John Lobo, a local, who incidentally is the secretary of the Shack Owners Association.
Lobo along with some locals, Calangute Panch Saluzinho Fernandes and Director of Baga Retreat House Fr Lawry Trinidade was addressing the media on Saturday.
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THE PROBLEM
Lobo said when complaints against loud music began to rise, local shack owners began to feel the heat of selective targeting by the police.
“On the instructions of the police, local shack owners stopped playing music. But we soon realised that at least four shack owners run by non-Goans continued playing loud music throughout the night, sometimes well past 4 in the morning,” he said.
Lobo said when they questioned the four shack owners, they informed that they have connections with some higher-ups in the police and no one could stop them from playing music.
THE ACTION
“It’s then we decided to take the initiative in our hands and the idea of forming groups and monitoring late night music in the area came up,” Lobo said.
According to the local youth, they did not believe that they were taking the law in their hands but instead, were helping authorities in implementing the High Court order.
“It’s a win-win situation for all. We don’t enter into the premises of the offenders. We move around and whoever is found playing loud music, we call them out and request them to obey the court order and stop playing music,” said Lourence Fernandes, a local.
So far, for almost a week, the initiative has paid off and music after 10 pm has stopped along the Baga coast.
“We want tourism, but not with loud music. We all want music but it has to be within certain decibels. Loud music can be played in sound proof enclosures like discos or night clubs,” Lobo said
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THE IMPACT
Shack owners disclosed that they were surprised that stoppage of late music has actually increased footfalls.
“We found a lot of guests coming up to us and saying that the blaring music actually put them off,” Lobo said.
The locals and shack owners are not sitting on their laurels and want the model to be replicated in other parts of Goa.
“We want people from other areas also to form groups and stop the menace of loud music after 10 pm. As responsible citizens, let’s help the authorities to implement the law,” Lobo said.
Baga retreat house director hails initiative
MAPUSA: Acknowledging that there was no late night loud music played in the last seven days, Director of Baga Retreat House Fr Lawry Trinidade appreciated the stand taken by the locals of Baga.
“Thank you for coming together to fight for the cause. If in Delhi there is air pollution, in Goa we have noise pollution. It’s happening not only in Baga but across Goa and must be stopped,” Fr Trinidade said.
He said it’s not only the people who come for a retreat who get disturbed by the loud music, but also senior citizens, children and people who have to wake up early the next morning to go to work.
“We need to stop the noise and it has to be consistent. Right now, I am very happy that you have taken this initiative and I hope it works for all of us,” he said.
He also apologized if the names of shack and restaurant owners mentioned in this complaint were wrong.
“From top, I cannot locate the restaurant or shack. I apologise if I have taken wrong names,” he said.
Tito’s owner backs locals
MAPUSA: In a major boost to the campaign, local businessman and owner of the popular Tito’s Club, Ricky D’Souza commended the initiative of the enterprising people of Baga in stopping the late night loud music.
“It’s a great effort. I feel proud that our boys have come forward to take charge and stop the menace. Now, we have to take this forward and stop other problems dotting the coastal belt,” Ricky said.
He said buses entering the narrow roads, Indian tourists posing for photos with foreign women tourists swimming in underwear, etc should also be stopped.
Ricky said stopping of loud music in the shacks and restaurants has not affected his business, but on the contrary it has gone up.
