PRIESTS' COMPLAINTS
FALL ON DEAF EARS?
* In his complaint, the Director of Xavier Retreat House has named five shacks as being responsible for playing loud music late into the night * Unfortunately, today, the noise pollution is so much that it is a big hindrance to all Spiritual Activities undertaken here, he said
* I submitted a complaint to the PI of the Calangute police station. But unfortunately the violation continues until this day, he said
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POLICE COUNTER
* Calangute PI Jivba Dalvi says that they are constantly monitoring the shacks
* There's no loud music going on in our area. Whenever we get a call we verify it, he said
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PANAJI: Loud music being played with impunity by beach shacks at Baga beyond the stipulated time of 10 pm is driving away those seeking peace and quiet at the iconic Xavier Retreat House in Baga, a spiritual centre set up by the Jesuits back in 1952.
Complaints by the priests to the authorities have, till date, fallen on deaf ears with the police refusing to act against the complaints and stop the music.
In his complaint to both the Collector and the Calangute Police, under whose jurisdiction Baga falls, Director of the Xavier Retreat House, Fr Lawry Trinidade has named five shacks as being responsible for playing loud music late into the night.
“We conduct recollections, seminars and retreats to various groups of people. Unfortunately, today, the noise pollution is so much that it is a big hindrance to all Spiritual Activities undertaken here. The music blaring out from the speakers in the shacks from 6pm right up to 4am prevents us from providing a space and quiet, conducive to what we are supposed to offer them. Our daily night sleep is also seriously affected,” Fr Trinidade said in his complaint to the Calangute Police.
“Several of our retreatants have told us that they want to move away without completing the retreats because of the noise,” Fr Trinidade told The Goan.
The Xavier Retreat House house was built in the year 1952 to cater to the spiritual needs of the people of Goa. This was the first Retreat house in Goa that provided an opportunity to the people to experience silence and solitude which they were in search of.
“The management of Larios, Café Laval, Bistro, Blue Waves, Blue moon, situated at Baga, Calangute are in continuous violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 for last several days,” Fr Trinidade said.
“I submitted a complaint to the PI of the Calangute police station… at about 7pm the PI of Calangute deputed his constable Arjun to verify the veracity of my complaint. Satisfied he left the premises but unfortunately the violation continues until this day until 4am in the morning,” Fr Trinidade says.
“For the last one week, I have been calling Nos 100, and 08322278284 to register my complaint about the serious disturbances. But I cannot do this every night and 365 days of the year,” he said.
When The Goan spoke to Calangute PI Jivba Dalvi he has said that they are constantly monitoring the shacks.
“There's no loud music going on in our area. Whenever we get a call we verify it,” said Calangute PI, Jivba Dalvi while feigning ignorance to this particular complaint he is in receipt of.
Speaking to The Goan Antonio de Souza, a member of the High Court appointed committee, to oversee the implementation of the Noise Pollution Rules has confirmed that the music continues to be played much to the detriment of students studying for exams.
“The violations are continuing with music going on till three to four in the morning with impunity. There is no action taken. They have subverted the whole thing by involving the MLAs and claiming that it is their business. But you can do business without creating a nuisance and not at the cost of others,” de Souza told The Goan.
Fr Trinidade confirmed that there have been attempts from the highest levels to get him to back down, which he has refused and that he is awaiting action from the collectorate.
The priests at the retreat house fear that with the tourism season coming to a close the music may subside but they will have to go through the entire saga in the following season.
