Daijiworld Media Network - Mapusa

Mapusa, Jan 27: In a rare and almost unbelievable development, the usually noisy Anjuna–Vagator coastal belt witnessed a relatively calm Saturday night, offering long-awaited relief to residents who have endured years of relentless nightlife noise.

Despite packed clubs and the long Republic Day weekend expected to trigger nonstop partying, loud music across most restaurants and nightclubs subsided after 10 pm. Amplified music was either switched off or played at significantly reduced volumes, transforming the normally chaotic nightlife stretch into an unusually quiet zone.

Residents said the silence was striking. “This is something we never expected, especially on a long weekend. Music was loud around 6 pm but reduced sharply by 8 pm. From midnight till early Sunday morning, there was hardly any sound. For the first time, everything was silent,” said Assagao resident and noise pollution activist Desmond Alvares.

The calm came as a surprise given the aggressive promotional campaigns by several nightclubs promising “non-stop music” and “endless parties” during the three-day holiday. While Friday night followed the usual pattern of blaring music, locals said Saturday night saw a noticeable dip in volume levels.

Alvares credited the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and sustained media attention for the change. “The consistent reportage has clearly had an impact. There was pressure, and it showed on the ground,” he said, while cautioning that the real test would be whether the compliance continued on Sunday and Monday.

Residents across the belt echoed similar sentiments, though some flagged continued violations. Vagator resident Jawish Moniz said noise levels were overall lower but alleged that a few clubs continued to play loud music into Sunday morning. He named House of Chapora, 9 Bar, Salud and Dynamo as establishments that allegedly violated norms.

“One quiet night doesn’t solve the problem. Enforcement must be consistent, not selective,” Moniz said, adding that citizen groups would continue to monitor the situation.

In Anjuna, resident Pradeep Harmalkar described the night as “unusually calm”. “We were expecting total chaos, but after 10 pm it became much quieter. It felt relaxing—something we haven’t experienced in years,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GSPCB confirmed that it received 29 complaints through its registered helpline on Saturday night, including 18 related to loud music from restaurants and nightclubs and 11 linked to other noise issues. Officials said all complaints were immediately forwarded to the police for necessary action.

According to the Board, noise exceedances recorded by installed meters after 10 pm from January 22 onwards stood at 34. GSPCB chairman Levinson Martins stressed the need for sustained enforcement, stating that police and Deputy Collectors, who are notified authorities under Noise Pollution Rules, must ensure strict compliance.

Martins added that additional monitoring teams had been deployed for Sunday and Monday, with intensified surveillance ordered for the remaining holiday period.

For now, the rare calm has offered residents a glimpse of what effective enforcement could look like. Whether it marks a lasting change or a brief pause before a return to business-as-usual remains to be seen.