PANAJI
Tourism and hospitality stakeholders have extended their support to the State’s renewed crackdown on noise pollution, but also warned that enforcing a blanket 10 pm music cutoff ” without exceptions for weddings and major events ” risks undermining the night-time economy at a time when competition from other destinations is peaking.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) this week issued a strong advisory to commercial establishments and event organisers on zero tolerance for noise beyond permissible limits and after 10 pm. Violators, the Board said, will face heavy penalties and suspension of consent to operate.
Industry concerns
Industry leaders insist they are not asking for leniency, only for a practical approach. They have argued that while nightlife venues in residential belts must comply strictly, weddings ” which have become a prime segment of Goa’s tourism economy ” cannot be treated on par with commercial party hubs.
President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Jack Sukhija, said the industry accepts the need for silence in residential zones after 10 pm but the rigid rule would deal a blow to both local and destination weddings.
“The 10 pm restriction is a welcome decision, but it will certainly affect weddings, whether local or destination. Goa has been getting a strong response as a wedding destination. We are fine with banning loud music across the coastal belt because many of these commercial establishments are located in residential areas; however, for weddings, I feel there has to be some relaxation.”
He suggested extending the deadline to 11 pm, but only for weddings. “We will soon hold a meeting and accordingly approach Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” he added.
TTAG’s North Goa Vice-President, Aakash Madgavkar, said the concern was not about the rule itself but the sudden strictness of its enforcement.
“The 10 pm order is not a new order, but it has been decided to enforce it strictly. This is once again putting Goa in the news for the wrong reasons and sending a negative message to everyone,” he said.
“This will affect a lot of businesses in Goa ” events (weddings, meetings, corporate etc), hotels, bars and restaurants, and a lot of ancillary businesses as well. There is an issue of noise pollution in Goa, but there is a need for a balanced way of implementing and enforcing this order, in a way that stakeholders are not affected,” he added.
Hotels fear loss of business
Beyond tourism bodies, hotel owners also stated that the uncertainty is already becoming a deterrent. One of the members of the Goa Hotels & Restaurants Association feared clients could become increasingly hesitant.
“Couples want predictability, not last-minute clampdowns. If Goa cannot offer clarity, they will choose Rajasthan or Kerala, where event timelines are better defined,” the member said.
Restaurant operators are also uneasy. Cheryl Carvalho, co-owner of a coastal restaurant, said abrupt enforcement could hurt the collaborative equation between businesses and the State. “We understand the need for discipline. But the government must ensure that enforcement does not come at the cost of livelihoods. A nuanced model is possible and necessary,” she said.
