In Goa, nightclubs cannot legally play music at 100 dB without violating noise pollution regulations. The permissible noise levels are 55 dB in commercial areas during the day and 45 dB at night in residential areas. However, some clubs have been known to flout these rules, often playing music beyond the allowed decibel limits and past the 10 PM curfew. To play music at such high levels, clubs would need to either operate in non-residential areas with special permits or ignore the regulations, risking legal action.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board and local police have been cracking down on violators, enforcing noise norms and issuing fines
High Court with a contempt petition against the violators. The court’s intervention marked a significant shift.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) was directed to enforce noise pollution norms. Establishments were ordered to install noise monitoring equipment to ensure compliance with decibel limits.
speakers that stop sound complaints
Show-cause notices were issued to errant clubs and restaurants, and some even faced revocation of their operating licenses.
For the first time, tangible action followed. Police began registering cases against violators, and fines were imposed on those playing music beyond permitted hours.
Breaking point: A community’s outcry
The situation reached a tipping point in the Anjuna-Vagator belt, a hotspot for nightlife.
Residents found themselves trapped in a cycle of sleepless nights and futile complaints. Despite laws and Supreme Court guidelines setting decibel limits, violations became the norm rather than the exception. Local authorities, including the police, appeared indifferent or complicit, often ignoring complaints or passing the buck to other departments.
Government’s response: Flicker of hope
Amid mounting frustration, the community’s protests caught the attention of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
In a meeting held in Anjuna in March this year, he announced measures to curb the nuisance. Music played outdoors was to be halted at 10 pm, with only indoor music allowed under specific permissions.
Initially, this brought some relief, but the respite was short-lived. Within weeks, many establishments resumed their old practices, blasting music from dusk to dawn.
Legal action, enforcement loud music noise complaint