CM urges Centre to relax sand extraction, sound rules

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday urged Union govt to relax sand extraction norms, allow music beyond restricted times to boost tourism, and start a train from Pernem to Canacona to decongest roads.

Sawant held a fruitful meeting with Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi. Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar was also present at the meeting.

“Discussed a wide range of environment and forest-related issues. Grateful for his (Yadav’s) intervention and prompt resolution of most of the concerns,” Sawant said.

He urged the Union minister to relax the sand extraction norms for the state, akin to those stipulated for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He sought amendments to the CRZ Notifications of 2011 and 2019, besides sustainable mining guidelines. Govt has said that the prohibition of sand extraction under these notifications adversely affected the availability of sand and the livelihood of dependent families.

Sawant said Goa also made a representation to Centre to work out a solution to relax the 10pm restriction on amplified sound.

“To ensure that tourists are not inclined to go to other countries instead, we have requested Centre to work out a solution to relax sound restrictions beyond 10pm for events held at outdoor venues,” Sawant said.

A senior official said that as Goa is an economy largely dependent on tourism, it often bears the brunt of sound restrictions. “Tourists who flock to the state with the aim of partying all night, as well as wedding planners, are often left disappointed with the 10pm sound restriction,” the official said.

It has often been reported that locals from the coastal belt complain about loud music being played in their vicinity. State govt thus decided to crack down on loud music, and several FIRs were filed against establishments along the coastal belt because of noise pollution.

With the tourism industry being “severely hit” by noise pollution norms, Sawant raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in Jan and urged him to bring reforms to create designated zones to allow music beyond 10pm.