Goa govt mulls tweaking law to allow amplified music after 10pm

Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said govt will examine the possibility of tweaking the law to allow amplified music beyond 10pm in the state in a bid to boost tourism and provide relaxation for Goan weddings. Govt will file a review petition in Supreme Court to allow such music beyond 10pm, Sawant said, and added that he will direct police not to stop music played indoors beyond 10pm.

“We cannot bypass SC order, and we will do whatever possible to allow music beyond 10pm considering the law,” Sawant, who also holds the home portfolio, told the House. The state has the power to relax the rules for 15 days to allow music beyond 10pm, and govt is deciding on those days, he said.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said he has raised this issue in the interest of Goans having weddings and those running restaurants. He said the CM wrote a letter suggesting that music played at 70 decibels should be allowed between 10pm and 1am, but was told that it was not possible. “Has govt given up on this issue?” Sardesai asked.

In response, law minister Aleixo Sequeira said govt has consulted senior lawyers in Delhi to file a review petition in the SC to allow music at night.

Sardesai said that when he visited Bengaluru, he saw that parties continued till 1am despite the law being the same. He noted that in his budget speech, the Karnataka CM assured to keep establishments open. “If Karnataka can do it, why can we not allow it?...Will (Goa) govt allow restaurants, shacks, and open-air venues to play music until midnight?” he asked while seeking CM’s intervention in the matter.

Sardesai further said state govt has lost Rs 1,600 crore in revenue due to the 10pm restriction on amplified sound and demanded that the CM make a statement that music at weddings will be allowed until 1am.

“If we can keep establishments open until 1am, we can examine this. We don’t have a problem allowing music until 1am for weddings, but we have to have a look at the law,” Sawant said and noted that in Goa, govt faces problems from NGOs who file cases.

Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye urged govt to decide on the days it can relax the rules to allow amplified music beyond 10pm. Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira said govt must first amend the music ban notification and forward it to Centre for consideration before filing a review petition in the SC. Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said govt should issue directions to the police to not stop music played indoors.