The State government’s commitment to addressing noise pollution, as proposed in the last budget, has been realised with the submission of a comprehensive draft report on noise mapping and mitigation strategies.
The report, titled ‘Noise Mapping, Identification of Hot Spots and Mitigation Plan for Control of Noise Pollution for Goa State,’ was prepared by Envirotech Instruments Pvt Ltd and CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and has been submitted to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for public consultation and implementation.
Fulfilling its budgetary promise, the government-appointed agencies conducted extensive research and identified 30 noise pollution hotspots along the coastal belt of the State. These hotspots have recorded noise levels above the permissible limit of 75 decibels (dB), with some locations, such as Calangute-Baga, crossing 100 dB, especially during nighttime.
The identified noise pollution hotspots include popular tourist destinations and key locations such as Calangute and Baga beaches, Chicalim Junction, Crocodile Rock, Sinquerim Beach, Panjim Promenade, Morjim Beach, Vadem Bus Stop, Varunapuri, Verem Market, Saxony Beach Cottages and Restaurant, Ashvem Beach, Candolim Beach, Fort Aguada Road, Anjuna Beach, Arambol Beach, Siolim Bus Stop, Siolim Beach Road, Miramar, Agarwada-Morjim, Goa Surf School, IOC Junction, Sada-Vasco, Mandrem Beach, Goa Velha Bypass, Dabolim Airport, Cortalim Bridge and Dona Paula. The recorded decibel levels in these areas range from 79 dB to as high as 115 dB at night.
As part of the mitigation strategy, the agencies have recommended installing transparent noise barriers along a five-kilometre stretch covering four major beaches – Calangute, Baga, Ashvem, and Arambol – where noise levels significantly exceed the permissible limit.
However, locations such as Miramar, Candolim, Anjuna and Sinquerim beaches have been excluded from this recommendation, as their residential areas are situated at a considerable distance from the noise sources.
Interestingly, Anjuna has been at the centre of noise pollution concerns, with local residents actively protesting against the loud noise from restaurants and nightclubs in the area. The High Court of Bombay at Goa is currently hearing a contempt petition related to excessive noise in the Anjuna coastal belt.
Following the submission of the draft report, the GSPCB sought feedback from various government departments to refine the study further. GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil reaffirmed the board’s commitment to tackling noise pollution through collaborative efforts and actionable strategies.
He emphasised that the board is keen on incorporating the inputs from government departments to finalise the report and proceed with implementing the recommended noise control measures.
