WE'RE NOT INVOLVED, SAY THOSE FACING NOISE-POLLUTION RAP

PANJIM, Feb 18: From politicians to newspapers, and hoteliers
along the coastal belt... a diverse range of quarters seem to
have got caught up in the Goa court's attempts to clamp down on
noisy-all-night parties.

But even as those hauled to the courts have stated that they were
not involved in noise pollution, other quarters in the tourism-
dependent coastal belt of Bardez particularly continue with noisy
parties despite the strict fiat of the Goa high court bench.

Some striking cases are already emerging, as action is being
taken on the noise-pollution front.

Camilo Dias who works as part-time casher in a tourist-frequented
outlet called the Barracks in Candolim told the court today that
he was arrested on January 26, and kept overnight at the
Calangute police station on grounds of noise-pollution.

It may be recalled that in mid-January, the Goa high court bench
prohibited the playing of music on any amplifier in open areas
between 10 pm and 7 am in any locality of Goa.

This follows a petition by environmental campaigners, irked over
the rampant proliferation of noisy night-long hi-decible parties
in various parts of coastal Goa and elsewhere, particularly Bardez.

"Our restaurant is fully enclosed on three sides with heavy-duty
tarpoline, and the music is played inside the closed enclosure.
There are no residential houses within the 100 metres radius of
the restaurant," argued Dias.

But he also conceded that he was "not aware" of the court's
orders, and on learning of these subsequently takes care to
ensure that "no music is being played after 10 pm... whenever I
am looking after the restaurant".

In the case of another person, Camilo Peter Colaco who lives at
Calangute, the story that emerged was rather unusual.

Colaco said he is an Gulf-returned former finance manager who had
gone as a customer to the Barracks Restaurant for a special
country folk programme. He had taken his CD-playing Walkman with him.

On finishing dinner, he walked to stage to pick up his portable
CD which he had left at the edge of the stage. But "the police
entered in, caught hold of me in an attempt to arrest". He was
allowed to let go, but Colaco says his CD is still lying at the
Calangute police station.

In another interesting case, former-minister and Calangute MLA
Suresh V. Parulekar has, after being slapped with a contempt of
court charge in the noise-pollution case, has denied being linked
to the Reis Magos Fort Resort.

Parulekar, describing himself as a businessman, said: "I am not
the owner of (the) Reis Magos Fort Resort.... I am not even the
Director of this Resort."

>From Saligao, Warren C Vaz of the West End Club at Mollembhat,
pleaded being unaware about the court judgement and said the
sound at his night-spot does not travel beyond 30-40 metres.

Vaz, who said he has been hosting theme parties nights and fun
and game parties with background music on every Tuesday and
Friday for the past several years, said his club uses "surround
systems" from which the sound does not travel "beyond 30 to 40
metres".

He added that there were no residential houses situated close to
the Club West End.

Newspaper Navhind Times was also issued a contempt notice for
carrying an advert of the Reis Magos Fort Resort at Quegdevelim-
Reis Magos, which offered a 17-hour non-stop party running
through the night on January 26, Republic Day.

The publisher and editor said the ad was received through an
responsible agency, and had been published as per the
instructions of the advertising agency.

Since this judgement came a month ago, opinion has been polarised
on the issue of sound pollution and means to tackle it in the
state. Some argue that the steps to curb it should not be too
harsh in this touristic state. But those living in zones where
restaurants and others belt out loud and repetitive music till
the wee hours of the morning or later obviously have a different
view on the subject.  Frederick Noronha