Living with noise

The penchant for equating celebrations with loud noise is something we Indians need to come to terms with.  With no discernible changes in public mindset regarding this matter, it becomes difficult to understand how strict legal sanctions against the abominable habit will help discourage it.

Celebrations have become synonymous with everything loud. Bursting of crackers, music blaring out from loudspeakers, and a boisterous crowd jiving away to the tunes unmindful of the ruckus they are creating.

But of course, all these are forgiven and overlooked as necessities of a social life which demands revelries as an essential part of one’s otherwise humdrum existence.

With an inclination towards celebrating any joyous moment of one’s life as a special occasion, partying has come to define an approach where one tends to let one’s hair down and enjoy.

Marriage functions in regions across the country are typically studies in sharp contrast, so to speak. Yet, it is basically the gaiety associated with them which give them the stature of grandeur.

Various religious festivals bring along with them their own brand of festivities where predominantly it is the ‘loudness’ related with the celebrations which distinguishes one from the other.

Birthday and anniversary parties are never quiet and subdued affairs either! For that matter, every occasion is a cause for celebration. And what about those EDM festivals which are a current craze!

It is however the political landscape in the country which offers the maximum scope for staging lively, noisy, and active gatherings which at times lack discipline or restraint.

Political rallies or victory processions of leaders after elections results are announced take the cake for being high-spirited ones. It is the character of the assemblage that gives the celebrations their own definite flavour.  

So, basically it is the penchant for enjoying these occasions which is translating into the sort of liveliness that borders on the state of being noisy and unrestrained.

However, a general acceptance of these minor ‘hitches’ as age-old traditions and customs which have been observed for ages now have not invited any ill-will, so far at least.

But times are changing and so are the likes and dislikes of people. Moreover when a problem assumes a magnitude that is difficult to assail, there will be brickbats reserved for them.

Nevertheless, noise has become so much a part of one’s daily life that we have never once stopped to think of it as a ‘toxin’. ‘Living with it’ has become the only recourse available and we have been more than happy doing it without understanding the consequences.

Rapid urbanisation has brought along with it its own share of woes. The technological advancement of the period has only added to the miseries. The vehicular cacophony on the roads is a blatant example of the luxuries of the modern era which have had a ‘pronounced’ effect on the environment.

The mushrooming of dance-floors and event-staging centres in the heart of residential dwellings, seen as a novelty once, is now being thought of as an annoyance considering the disturbance they cause to residents in the neighbourhood.   

The development of any region enhances its tourism value. Already tagged as a much-favoured global tourism destination for its natural settings, Goa has been playing host to multitudes visiting the place to enjoy its highly publicized hospitality.

Besides, its marquee events which have been bringing in throngs from across the country and abroad have ensured that Goa is a happening place round the year.

The coastal belt of the state is what gives the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ its distinct identity. The shacks and the multitudes of resorts dotting the beachline provide their brand of cuisine and entertainment to visitors.  

It is this ‘entertainment’ where loud music and noisy crowds are creating problems for the local residents. If reports are to be believed, life in the coastal belt of Goa starts well after the sun has set and ends with the break of dawn.

The constant loud music from the nightclubs and beach parties disturb residents even late into the night, impacting their sleep and quality of life.

It is the inconsistent enforcement of noise regulations, where tourist-oriented establishments often operate with impunity despite exceeding limits that has come in for strong criticism from the public and media alike.   

Understanding that any unwanted and undesirable sound is noise, we need to realize that noise can no longer be considered as merely an unpleasant and irritating sound for the ears. It is a pollutant, and one that has the potential to create health concerns.

It is time we debunked the theory that atmospheric pollution is the only type of contamination that is harming living beings on the planet.

As a significant issue in the state’s coastal areas, there have been umpteen appeals by local residents for prompt action by the authorities to put an end to this malaise. But it is as if these ‘entreaties’ have fallen on deaf ears.

Not that there are no stringent laws in place to tackle the menace! Is it a lack of political will that prevents effective implementation of these laws, one wonders! Or is it the ‘tourism moolah’ that the state stands to lose were the laws to be enforced which is giving the government the jitters!

There are already talks of the government’s blatant double standards in noise rule enforcement with foreign DJs catering to tourists being allowed to perform well beyond the permissible time while the local musicians have to bear the brunt of all the restrictions.

It is however heartening to hear that in a decisive move to address noise pollution, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has intensified its crackdown on bars, restaurants and clubs along the North Goa coastal belt. But will it be a committed drive?