Goa Entertainment Association wary of effects of new sound limitation notification, meets Environment Minister

Team Herald

margao: In a meeting held with Environment Minister, Nilesh Cabral on Thursday, the Goa Entertainment Association (GEA) has requested the State government to try and reassess the decibel level limitations prescribed in the new sound notification reasonably for traditional events and local weddings. 

Through a letter, they have requested the Minister, who is also the Law Minister, to consider the pleas of various other tourism stakeholders who depend on music for their livelihood.

GEA President Herschel Mascarenhas and senior members made the representation to Cabral regarding the new notification on noise pollution safeguards issued by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Herschel said the livelihoods, which are dependent on the tourism and entertainment business in Goa, have to be considered before finalising limitations and also while taking into consideration the safeguards to the environment, and public health. 

“Professional entertainers who are traditional event and tourism industry stakeholders are worried about the impact of the herein above referred notification regarding installation of sound limiters in sound systems.

Tourism remains the major industry in Goa whose stakeholders have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Herschel added. 

They have also requested the Minister to declare traditional Goan dance venues and any such public venues as industrial areas as defined under Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000.

They have requested the State government to issue directions wherein the ambient sound levels are to be measured only at the periphery area of public venues; and also for a direction to the enforcing authorities not to harass performers by attaching their personal musical instruments, as regards to violations of provisions of Environment and other Noise Pollution Laws. 

They have also requested the enforcing authorities that only the person taking permission for sound license should be held liable for any violation of environmental and related laws. 

“Musicians and sound system vendors are traditionally paid after the event and as such are subject to financial blackmail, along with threat to life and property by the licensee, which may sometimes result in violation of existing environment protection and related acts,” the association pointed out. 

The association has also warned that the recent notification about sound limiters in equipment may result in musicians losing business as an average Goan wedding caterers to a minimum of 500 guests. 

They claim that there will be huge cost involved in installing sound limiters in already existing digital systems; and that under the current scenario, the vendors of sound systems will be have to bear huge additional financial burden.

 “This does not augur well for a tourism oriented State which traditionally celebrates its festivals and weddings with pomp and gaiety,” Herschel added. 

The association added that they received a positive response from Cabral regarding the concerns and views shared by them.