When Music is Noise By Tomazinho Cardozo
The Goa Tourism and Entertainment Association (GTEA), in a meeting held recently, has sought relaxation in the noise pollution law, enforced in Goa since 2000. GTEA's contention is that the tourism industry has been adversely affected because of the ban on amplified music after 10 p.m. They wish to have the freedom to play loud music till midnight. They are of the opinion that if the same Act is enforced the tourism industry might collapse. They are also bitter because the Noise Pollution Act implemented in Goa is based on a similar Act in Madhya Pradesh and the GTEA feels that it is not proper to apply the same Act to Goa because conditions in Goa and Madhya Pradesh are totally different as far as the tourism industry is concerned. Their demand is that Goa must have an Act of its own to control loud music and that it should be framed after taking into consideration the opinion and suggestions of the GTEA.
There is no doubt that Goa is a tourist state and that entertainment is one of the factors that helps tourism in a big way. Entertainment is not complete without music. The music that we are talking about here is 'amplified music'. To what extent amplified music should be allowed is a debatable issue. To those who are involved in the tourism industry loud music till midnight makes no difference. It is their job. There other people, involved in tourism activities, who earn their daily bread by converting their houses into guest-houses and they find it difficult to get foreign customers if loud music is played continuously in their neighbourhood. There is yet another category of people, the ordinary citizens, who are not involved in tourism activities. They only wish to live in peace and harmony and are strongly opposed to loud music in their neighbourhood because it disturbs their privacy. Everybody has a right to enjoy music but this should not prevent others from enjoying music in their own homes.
Any form of unwelcome sound is noise pollution. Amplified music will be pleasing and satisfying to all those who are singing and dancing to the beat of that music. It is an established fact that what is music to one may be noise to another.
I fully agree that Goa must have its own Noise Pollution Control Act taking into consideration the requirements of this tiny state. The government must act in that direction. But the one thing that we must not forget is that there exists an Act of the government of India and any act in Goa cannot contravene the provisions
of the Central Act. That may be one of the reasons why the Goa government has not ventured to frame its own law. If at all the government decides to go in for a new legislation then it will have to take care of the rights of the common citizen as well. Under such circumstances the government tries to perform a balancing act in order to please all the affected parties.
However, the government will have to take into consideration the problems faced by the common citizen due to loud music, in the event of framing a new legislation. The interest of the old and sick members of our society must be protected. Their freedom to live in peace and harmony must not be disturbed at any cost. Secondly students face a major problem. The government cannot neglect this aspect. Thirdly the government will have to take care of thousands of families who earn their livelihood by converting their houses into guesthouses. In the coastal belt of Goa practically every alternate house is a guesthouse. Low-income tourists prefer these houses because of the calm and tranquility. Amplified music played till late hours of the night in the vicinity disturbs their sleep and hence they leave. This should not happen. Let everybody have his or her share of the cake of tourism.
We must know that there is no provision anywhere in the world of tourism to make use of amplified music in open areas. It is only in Goa that amplified music is legally permitted up to 10 p.m. in the open. When the High Court came down heavily on the misuse of amplified music some years back, the government managed to get relaxations for Christmas and New Year's celebrations. I think all those who love Goa must ponder over and decide whether Goa should behave the way the tourist wishes to behave or whether the tourists should behave the way Goa wishes them to behave while in Goa. As for me, the tourists in Goa should behave the way Goans wish them to behave.
As has rightly been said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Scantly dressed, half-naked tourists are a common sight in Goa. We are tolerating it at the cost of a disastrous impact on our children. Today it is the problem of amplified music. No doubt it should be settled but not at the cost of the health of our elders, at the cost of the studies of our children, at the cost of the peace and harmony of our citizens and at the cost of denying the daily bread to poor families who depend on tourism activities.
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