VAGATOR: People of Anjuna and Vagator are gearing up for their candlelight vigil despite Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo speaking out against noise pollution and against the people needing to protest.
By Wednesday evening, despite a promise by Anjuna PI Paresh Naik that no music will be allowed after 10 pm, Independence Day revellers expressed their freedom dancing to music.
“We intend to show the darkness of deceit we are suffering through the candlelight vigil on Independence Day. Let our voices unite to drown the loud noise,” said Dr Inacio Fernandes as the beats got louder through the night.
Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo had her third meeting with the Police Inspector of Anjuna police station, along with the villagers of Anjuna and Vagator, demanding that no loud music be allowed after 10 pm and at the end of the one-hour sit-down, the locals were convinced it was another, “wolf”, “wolf” cry.
“We have been called for the third time and since on both previous occasions, promises were not kept I was certain the meeting today was more to brainwash us to cancel our candlelight march tomorrow,” said Antonio Moraes.
“The candlelight protest is taking place. If there is no music after 10 pm tomorrow (Thursday), we will still light candles to honour the PI for keeping to his word,” added Moraes.
MLA Lobo started by trying to win the sympathy of the villagers gathered with her opening remark: “After calling a meeting with the Panchayat members and owners of clubs to sort this matter last time, houses are vibrating with the sound that goes on all night and day.”
During the meeting the locals were clear that they expected nothing concrete from the meeting – based on past two encounters – but Anjuna PI weighed in with an assurance that he would not allow music after 10 pm.
“I will be sitting in the police station all night. Anyone is free to come and complain or call me up,” assured Naik to which Janet Moraes retorted, “The police never pick up the phone.”
“Somewhere, something is wrong. My women do not need to have candlelight marches anymore. Loud music in residential areas should not be allowed because it affects the people,” emphasised Lobo.
MLA Lobo kept putting the onus of loud music on the police when a journalist queried: “Why are you placing the responsibility of stopping loud music on the police when everyone knows his boss and your boss is the same person?”
Lobo remained silent for a while and after establishing eye contact with Naik shot back, “We have asked the Chief Minister to bring out a policy on loud music but he was not able to do it during this session of the Assembly.”
The meeting took an interesting turn when Desmond Alvares, previous member of the noise monitoring committee and a petitioner in the Goa Bench of the Bombay High court asked: “Your place Pisco in Anjuna has advertised a three-day party. Have you put up a noise monitoring unit outside?”
Lobo was flummoxed. “The Goa State pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has only recently written to all to have this system and has given us time,” she said. Most present were only keen to hear a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
“Music will not stop unless the High Court intervenes. This meeting is to distract us from having the candlelight meet. There was loud music yesterday, there is music now and there will be tomorrow. This time our show will go on,” asserted Rita Ali.
“Being part of the sound monitoring committee is useless. I go for meetings to the Collector’s office every fortnight and nothing happens. We have no powers,” said Dominic Pereira, the second member of the committee, who expressed exasperation at the level of noise pollution.
“They may try and reduce the sound today, but hear the noise tomorrow. Nothing is going to stop us from meeting with candles tomorrow,” asserted Sharon Lobo, as music could be heard being tested loudly around her house.