Goa may have to wind up 'Narakasur music' by midnight
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 21 October 2015 21:31 IST
Playing blaring music for Narakasur, on the eve of Diwali, could invite action from the state authorities, especially after midnight.
The Supreme Court has already considered it a crime to play loud music, beyond 60 decibels, in a residential area.
The relaxation can be given maximum for 10 decibels more, in case of exception, taking it to 70 decibels.
Accordingly the Bombay high court at Goa has even ordered the state government to designate authorities to take action against blaring music played beyond permissible limit.
In addition, the central Ministry for Environment and Forest has instructed Goa State Pollution Control Board to file a compliance report by monitoring noise levels at various locations all over Goa during Diwali festival.
“We will strictly follow the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, as instructed by MoEF, especially at Narakasur night”, said Jose Manuel Noronha, the chairman of GSPCB.
According to him, loud music cannot be played beyond 10 pm till 6 am which can be extended by the state government on 15 different days of festivities, but not beyond 12 midnight.
The guidelines have been fixed under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
This may dampen the ‘high spirit’ of Goan youth, who play loud music and dance in front of the Narakasur effigy at almost all the residential areas in the towns, and even villages, till early morning.
The high court has also designated district collector, deputy collector, superintendent of police and deputy superintendent of police as the designated authorities to take action in this regard.
