Team Herald
PANJIM:Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday stated that no loud music will be permitted after 10 pm except those issued licences to play music indoors. Also night patrolling will be increased in the wake of assault on tourists and also to stop sound pollution.
Speaking to media after the Cabinet meeting, Sawant said that he has already asked the police to start night patrolling in the coastal belt in view of the recent crimes reported in the coastal belt of North Goa district.
“About additional 40 per cent staff strength will be deployed in the coastal belt police stations during night time as against 20 per cent staff in other police stations. A meeting of home department was held in view of the recent criminal activities in the coastal belt and stern action was initiated against the perpetrators,” he said adding thatsuch incidents will not be tolerated in the State.
Claiming that the crime detection rate was highest in the State as high as 95 per cent, the Chief Minister said that his government is taking various precautions from time-to-time to control crime. There will be complete ban on loud music played after 10 pm. The police focus will now be on controlling crimes, he added.
Sawant further said that en Masse transfers in the Goa police department irrespective of the rank will be effected within the next eight days. Transfers of police constable are issuerd and the transfers of DySPs, PIs and PSs will be done in the next eight days.
Reacting to CM’s statement, Noise Pollution Control member from Mandrem, Adv Prasad Shahapurkar said, “I could not stop laughing when Chief Minister made the statement because ground reality is different. Unless the concerned Police Inspector (PI) has a strong will, night parties and loud music cannot be stopped. I am telling this out of my experience. We report more than 50 incidents of playing loud music to the police but hardly one or two cases are registered.”
Tushar Govekar of Junaswada, Mandrem said, “Chief Minister has made a wrong statement. There are no hotels or restaurant in Mandrem, Morjim and Arambol playing music indoors. All are playing music in the open causing nuisance to the people at night time. Even if police arrives at the spot they are reluctant to seize the equipment of the Organisers.”
Sukhaji Naik of Mandrem said, “Chief Minister may be unaware that villagers have gone to the spot and stopped night parties. We now want village panchayat to take action against such hotels and restaurants.”