Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Feb 9: While wedding celebrations across Goa are routinely silenced by 10 pm under noise pollution laws, residents along the northern coastal belt allege that nightlife venues continue to flout the same rules with impunity, leaving locals sleepless and frustrated.
As Saturday night rolled into Sunday, loud techno music reportedly blared across Vagator and Anjuna, with packed parties hosted at venues such as Jungle Origen, Masaya at Ozran and Aura Beach Café in South Anjuna. Residents said the sound travelled far beyond venue boundaries, echoing across hillsides, beaches and nearby residential areas.
According to locals, a brief lull occurred around 9 pm when a Goa State Pollution Control Board official was seen patrolling the area. However, the silence was short-lived. “The moment officials leave, the music comes back louder. This is enforcement only on paper,” said Desmond Alvares, a long-time campaigner against noise pollution.
At Jungle Origen, an open-air venue located on a hilltop overlooking the sea, music allegedly continued through the night. Residents claimed the venue operates without clear permissions and is situated on comunidade land, issues that have been flagged earlier. Heavy sound systems, lighting and large installations have reportedly turned the area into a high-decibel nightlife zone.
“They claim it’s far from homes, but sound travels at night. Distance means nothing when the volume is so high,” said Ozran resident Nilesh Mandrekar.
Residents also pointed to the predictability of such violations. Parties are openly advertised on social media days in advance, often promising music till dawn. “Tourists are not to blame. These events are promoted openly. The failure is in enforcement,” Mandrekar added.
Similar complaints have emerged from the Calangute–Baga belt, where residents allege that influential clubs and restaurants routinely breach the 10 pm deadline, sometimes even bursting fireworks past midnight.
John Lobo, general secretary of the Shack Owners’ Welfare Society, highlighted what he termed a double standard. “All beach shacks strictly stop music at 10 pm. Weddings are shut down immediately. But some clubs play till morning. The law should be equal for everyone,” he said.
A retired senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the issue was not ambiguity in the law. “Noise pollution rules are clear. What’s missing is consistent and firm action. When violators know penalties are unlikely, the system breaks down,” he said.
With multiple venues advertising all-night events through the weekend, residents say they are bracing for more sleepless nights. As Goa’s nightlife continues unabated after hours, locals argue that the contrast is becoming starker — while weddings are silenced by the clock, nightlife appears to follow a different rulebook where 10 pm is merely a suggestion.