Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Goa government has notified the ‘Amended Noise Action Plan’ to purportedly streamline the processes related to curbing noise pollution in the state, as specified before the High Court on April 30.
The amended plan specifies mechanisms for noise mapping, monitoring, penalties for violations, remedial actions etc.
The notification lists out application processes for procuring related permissions, rules governing the monitoring processes, penalties, timings for permitting loudspeakers, rules related to bursting of firecrackers, Noise limits applicable for vehicles of different types etc.
Although, the plan which is notified is termed as ‘Amended Noise Action plan’, very few changes have been made in the plan notified earlier in March this year.
Although the court had asked govt during the April 30 th hearing as to why the landline numbers of the collector’s office have been provided instead of mobile numbers to report violations in the Plan notified on March 14 and whether there was anybody in the collector’s office to answer landline numbers at 11pm , the amended plan notified yesterday continues to list out landline numbers of the authorities concerned.
If the permission is for indoor, music, the applicant has got the option of asking for permission for long period which may cover the entire season. The date and month of start and close may be mentioned.
During the hearing on April 30, the High Court had asked the licensing authorities to furnish a list of the licences issued to play music, while the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) was asked to make a statement on Monday, whether the licenced premises have noise monitoring systems installed and whether such premises are functional.
