Residents within the jurisdiction of Anjuna Panchayat are voicing heightened concerns over safety and law compliance due to a starred hotel's extensive fireworks exhibition on Vagator Beach.
Locals are alarmed by big hotels using events like destination weddings as excuses to set off fireworks on the beach, endangering people and animals. These fireworks, which aren't ignited on the hotel premises, but at the beach, have become a hazard. Following the fireworks, relentless loud music throughout the night adds to the disturbance, causing noise pollution and disrupting locals' peace. Residents have appealed for increased police patrolling and government intervention to address this persistent issue.
Efforts from the High Court of Bombay at Goa to curb noise pollution through writ petitions have struggled to yield compliance, exacerbating the persistence of this concern.
A local resident, highlighted the discrepancy, stating, "During Diwali, adherence to regulations was followed, refraining from lighting firecrackers. Yet, these big hotels use the pretext of destination events to unleash massive and potentially dangerous fireworks on the beaches or open spaces, endangering locals, tourists, animals, and marine life. They do not even clear or cover the embers on the beach."
The detrimental effects extend beyond disturbance, as noted by another local, Maxi D’Souza, who emphasized the imperative for authorities to take action. "The authorities must intervene and enforce police patrolling to effectively tackle noise pollution. This poses a genuine threat; it's not just about disturbance but also potential harm to individuals," D’Souza expressed concern. "While local events like weddings are mandated to conclude by 10 PM, these hotel displays persist throughout the night, accompanied by disruptive loud music post-fireworks."
Moreover, the noise emitted by these festivities has disrupted the nesting sites of Olive Ridley Turtles at Morjim Beach, highlighting the ecological impact of these unchecked activities.
Locals demanded increased government intervention and strict adherence to regulations highlighting the urgent need to address this ongoing issue before further harm occurs.