Apropos to ‘Noise Monitoring Panel’s action comes under cloud” on The Goan Everyday, April 24, 2022, I, as a citizen member of the Noise Pollution Committee, wish to make a few clarifications. In the first place, there is no question of our actions coming under a cloud because we are not an authority which enforces the law. We are directed to inform the authority concerned (Police and Collector) about the violations. We, as a committee, have been proactive when it comes to dealing with noise pollution in the coastal belt and to this effect have even worked with several agencies to develop a mobile app to help people register their noise-pollution plaints. But to date, for reasons best known to the authorities concerned, this app has not been put to use in the public domain. It is highly regrettable that some citizens from Calangute and Anjuna have some difficulties reporting to the authorities, under Rule 7 of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, as directed by the High Court.
