Installation recommended along 5 kms covering 4 beaches in North; report submitted to GSPCB to identify hotspots
PANAJI
As the coastal belt continues to grapple with a serious noise pollution menace, the State government-appointed Central agencies have recommended installation of transparent noise barriers along a five kms long coastal stretch covering four beaches – Calangute, Baga, Ashvem and Arambol to mitigate sound disturbances.
The report ‘Noise Mapping, Identification of Hot Spots and Mitigation Plan for Control of Noise Pollution for Goa State’ prepared by Envirotech Instruments Pvt Ltd and CSIR-Central Road Research Institute has observed that at night time the sound level along these beaches along with Candolim, Miramar, Anjuna and Sinquerim exceed permissible limit.
The agencies had undertaken noise mapping across nine as only these beaches have got sound check stations installed and the music levels are notably high.
“In these areas, the installation of transparent noise barriers has been recommended to mitigate sound disturbances. Total length of the noise barriers proposed is approx. 5 kms out of 105 kms coastal area beaches 4.7 % of the total length,” the report, which will be kept open for public suggestions, reads.
The report has been submitted to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) - the nodal agency appointed to undertake noise mapping and identify hotspots.
“Installing transparent noise barriers made of 15 mm polycarbonate sheets with a height of 5 metres could be beneficial. These barriers could be set up at the sides and back of music setups, with the front facing the sea and slightly curved towards it to reduce noise spillover,” it added.
The agencies have recommended that the workers in noisy beach areas may use earplugs to reduce prolonged exposure to high noise levels.
According to the report, there is no need for noise barriers at Miramar, Candolim, Anjuna and Sinquerim beaches, as the residential areas are located at a considerable distance from these locations. The separation minimises the impact of any beach-related noise on nearby communities, making additional noise control measures unnecessary,” the report stated.
The agencies have proposed that the music systems at popular tourist beaches could have an automatic shutdown mechanism that deactivates the system when noise levels exceed 90 dB(A). This could help manage noise levels, which can significantly vary and impact both health and wildlife.
It said that for beaches near residential areas, noise barriers could be installed along the boundary between the sea and residential zones to help prevent noise intrusion into these areas.
“Enforcing night-time noise regulations on beaches with high tourist influx between specific hours could help in adhering to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, reducing noise pollution during peak times,” it added.
