A quiet revision of sound plan has loud repercussions in Goa

The Revised State Action Plan for Control of Noise Pollution has been issued without a murmur, despite the loud cries of protests from citizens along the north coastal belt since November 2023.

The truth is that noise – and that implies blaring music enjoyed by those intoxicated with drugs – has been creating havoc in the north.

And, despite the Supreme Court and the State Action Plan being notified by the Goa Government on January 5, 2022, the noise has only gotten louder.

The revised new action plan is nothing short of trying to sell old wine in a new bottle, and all the stakeholders are well aware of it.

The revised new action plan follows the ordinance on beach shacks and, that one should follow the other, indicates the desperation in the establishment.

The shack policy at the end of the shack season smacked of an attempt to undo the right done by the High Court. And now, the sound policy is a tepid attempt – especially in relation to religious and community celebrations – that you can have fun as long as we win.

The new sound policy states: ‘There will be no requirement for permission for functions and events having less than 100 persons and for private functions held within the precinct of residential houses and for community religious functions.’

The old noise pollution rules made it difficult for people celebrating weddings, which earlier would wind up around 1 am, but with the noise act, had to finish by 10 pm with a give and take of an hour, depending on individual social status.

The new regulations depict the tale of a ruler who lacks discernible attire. In the context of noise pollution within the kingdom, this ruler refers to the licensing authorities and their accomplices, the law enforcement officers.

Noise is a problem. But, the loud music that people – from the coastal belt, especially from Anjuna and Vagator, and now Ashvem and Arambol – have to tolerate is a crime.

It is absolutely unfair to expect those citizens to go through that grind (grief) just because a few want to make a fast buck.

There are videos that testify to the state of mind of the participants at rave parties. Today, there are no parties where chillum can be seen shared. Joint can be seen, and most times, its visuals of zombies polishing their noses, and that explains how music of such high decibels is enjoyed.

The scenario on the northern belt is completely different, with many parties brazenly announcing on social media, that, they are starting at 9 pm – one hour before the Supreme Court order that ‘no music can be played’.

The High Court of Bombay at Goa did try to bring a semblance of an order on the sound score, but it has its own limitations, and with the authorities caring little – especially the government – the citizens were left to fight their own battle, in vain.

The Revised Noise Pollution plan, like the previous one, has characteristics of goodness. Wow, a newcomer would say, this government cares for its people! And, the deeper one reads, the greater the conviction.

The truth, however, is simple. The government can get as many laws as it wants on noise pollution, the more fool proof, the more convincing. But, it will always turn to zero when there is no will.

There have been dozens of complaints made by citizens in North Goa and handed over to police stations – especially Anjuna Police Station – and all have been received and acknowledged, duplicate returned to the complainant.

An attempt was made to tackle noise pollution by conducting a mock operation in which equipment was seized, but no FIR registered.

The problem with noise pollution is that the organiser of the party and the police work hand-in-hand, but they make it so hard to prove this fact, though everyone is aware.

The ordinance and new action plan are silent indicators that the stutter has begun, now that the elections have been declared. It’s the time for those who suffered to plan their response.