MAPUSA
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government was planning “entertainment zones” in the State where the noise decibel level could be relaxed and would soon approach the Centre on the issue.
Cabral also said that the government could hardly do anything to relax the decibel level in the State as the High Court has issued directions on noise pollution and controlling the decibel level in the coastal belt and the turtle nesting sites.
“Since Goa is a tourist destination we are contemplating a separate plan for the State which will be submitted to the High Court for consideration. We are also planning entertainment zones in certain areas where the sound decibel rules could be relaxed,” said Cabral.
The Environment Minister was responding to the Calling Attention moved by Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye about the concern expressed by commercial establishments and business owners operating in the coastal belts on account of the order/notification in respect of silence zones.
Cabral said as per HC guidelines different decibel levels were applicable for industrial, commercial, residential and silent zones at turtle nesting sites.
“Entertainment Zones will be a new classification where certain areas will be demarcated for such zones where the decibel levels will be relaxed,” he said.
He said the CM along with some MLAs will soon go to Delhi and meet the Union minister with an appeal to relax the sound pollution rules for the State.
The Bicholim MLA said that if hotels and tourism stakeholders in the costal belt were not allowed to play music then their livelihood could get affected and called for some relaxation to the law.
Mandrem MLA, Jit Arolkar also called for immediate relief on this count and if possible before the start of the tourism season.
The Environment Minister, however, refrained from committing on the decision before this season as noise pollution was not a State subject.
