AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
VAGATOR: Over twenty-three trance parties have been advertised on social media as taking place along the northern coastal belt – from Anjuna to Arambol – from Independence Day till August 18 and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the police are passing the buck on each other.
Even the North Goa Collector’s office was unable to confirm if these 23 parties (could be more) have all the necessary permissions. Along with twenty-three flyers of different all-night parties taking place over the Northern coastal belt, O Heraldo requested Collector Dr Sneha Gitte to “disclose which establishments have been permitted to play music on August 14, 15 and 16, 2024”.
There was no response from the Collector till the time of going to press. “Please WhatsApp me the social media posts that are claiming they are going to have parties. I will comment once I see them,” said Dr Gitte.
The parties planned in restaurants that are operating as nightclubs in Vagator and Anjuna and an open-air four-day party in Arambol have planned all-night parties – some running into three days – slapping the freedom against noise pollution the Goa bench of the High Court at Goa is trying to put in place.
Here’s another shocker. The GSPCB had also in a report to the High Court, hearing a contempt petition, presented a letter submitted to the Collector (North Goa) on July 22, 2024, to ensure that closure directions to four units without their consent to operate, to be implemented.
From these four, two units – Raeeth at Vagator and Ziki Restaurant – have started sale of Independence Day tickets.
As online ticket sales for these events are picking up, the buck of non-compliance of the Court orders is being passed by the GSPCB and the coastal police, with stoic silence from the Collector (North Goa).
“Let me make it very clear that the GSPCB has no role in issuing permissions to establishments to play music. Permissions are given by the Collector’s office whilst GSPCB only gives consent to operate,” stated Shamila Monteiro, Secretary of GSPCB.
“We order an establishment that has no consent to operate to be shut and write to the Collector to ensure the closure directions are followed. We have shut down places that don’t have consent of the Board,” added Monteiro.
Despite claiming the Collector is the authority to issue permission to use loud music, the GSPCB has in a letter to the High Court on July 20 mentioned 32 units that have been served a partial modification in the renewal of consent to operate, wherein the units have been ordered to install Online Noise Monitoring Systems and also provide display boards along the periphery of the venue.
Eight of these thirty-two units are advertising all-night parties from Independence Day onwards. They are: M/s Salud, M/s Nine Bar, M/s Vamos/Echo, M/s Hilltop Hotel, M/s W Hotel, M/s House of Chapora, M/s XoXo and M/s Diaz.
“Vamos , Salud, Gypsea, Bob Caper are some units that play music indoor. They have been given consent to operate by GSPCB,” stated acting PI of Anjuna Paresh Naik when his attention was drawn to the fact that the places he mentioned are not equipped with sound proof indoor facilities.
“I am holding additional charge of Anjuna and if someone is getting disturbed, they should complaint to me and I will stop such parties. I do not stand to lose anything,” added Naik.
“I am not aware of any such event taking place as we have not received any permission from the North Goa Collector as of now, “stated Sheriff Jacques, PI of Mandrem Police Station.