PERNEM
Tourists from India and abroad have flocked to beaches in Goa to celebrate the year end and locals along Pernem’s coastal belt have been left wondering if the noise pollution would continue on the night of December 31, especially since the government has declared Morjim and Mandrem beaches as ‘silent zones’ on account of turtle nesting sites.
According to locals, the ‘silent zones’ remains merely on paper and nobody pays any heed to orders and directives in this regard. They claim there have been complaints of noise pollution on both these beaches since the tourist season began in October, and there has not been any action taken against those who break the rule.
According to sources, Pernem’s coastal belt is all set for the New Year parties, with DJs and musicians booked in advance. There are parties organised at Bagwada, Tembwada, Gaudewada, Vitthaldas Wada, and at the beaches of Morjim, Ashwem, Mandrem and Arambol.
However, locals allege there have been no checks on the organisation of these events.
They claim that hotels and resorts which host these parties are not supervised and there has been no control on these parties, further alleging that most parties are organised without taking proper permissions.
The foreign tourists have turned their back on these four beaches, which in the past, were full of thousands of foreign tourists from Russia, Israel, UK, Africa, etc. Instead, the parties that once witnessed footfalls of foreign tourists are now seen crowed with domestic tourists from Delhi, Pune, Kolhapur etc.
The locals have also questioned the reason for declaring Morjim and Mandrem beaches as ‘silent zones’.
“If a ‘silent zone’ has been declared, then the rule should be observed by all, not only the local hotels or resorts, but also those from outside Goa who have set their shops on Goan beaches,” reasoned a resort owner from North Goa.
“Local panchayats have been raising their voices and dissatisfaction over noise pollution, but even after submitting their written memorandums to the government, no action has been yet taken,” claims the resort owner.
According to sources, the government does not permit music parties in the silent zones at Mandrem and Morjim even on the December 31 night, but parties are organised without permission.
There has also been serious parking issues faced by the locals.
Tourists who visit the area to usher in the New Year on the beaches end up parking their vehicles wherever empty space is found, creating huge traffic congestion and jams. Some of the musical night organisers have offered parking space for a fee.
Also garbage menace is another issue faced by the locals. After the parties, the streets, beaches and empty spaces are found to be filled with garbage, which is later picked up by the panchayats and a company that has been given the contract to collect garbage.
