PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday sought to put at rest speculation over the post 10-pm sound ban affecting traditional celebrations during the upcoming Christmas and New Year week saying there will be no hurdles of any sort from the side of the State administration.
“The sound ban will not affect in anyway the religious ceremonies of Churches. The rules will not apply to churches and temples,” Sawant said in a bid to dispel widespread suspense and apprehension.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral also clarified that temples and churches in the State will not be covered under the law prohibiting amplified sound after 10 pm. The minister however said all open air venues and halls will have to install sound monitoring equipment in their periphery and these should be compatible and linked online to the server of the Goa State Pollution Control Board. “I request people to book only such halls from 10th January onwards that place sound monitoring metres,” Cabral said.
