Panaji: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has directed two establishments along the Bardez coast to shut operations for two months as their noise levels were found to have exceeded the permissible limit on several occasions. The board has withdrawn the consent to operate issued to Salud Kitchen and Lounge in Ozran, Anjuna, and HillTop in Vagator and asked them to pay a penalty of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1.4 lakh, respectively.
Both have installed online noise monitoring systems, but the board found that during a long period in Dec 2025 and Jan this year, the systems were not relaying the decibels to the GSPCB’s monitoring station.The notices by the board state that the establishments had not informed of any technical issues due to which the noise levels were not being relayed to the GSPCB station.Both the clubs have been told to comply with the requirements and approach the board for desealing to carry out the changes to the structure to make it soundproof.“Enclose and cover the open premises of your establishment with acoustic enclosures and with double-door system to contain noise so that it does not travel outside the premises and so as to ensure that the amplified music is played within closed premises. Your premises should be enclosed after taking proper guidance from the department of electricity and department of fire and emergency for the purpose of access for entry/exit,” the notice states.The notice also said that both electricity and emergency services departments should be consulted about the material to be used for the prevention of fire. For the safety of the occupants, there should be sufficient number of doors. The necessary permissions should be taken from the village panchayat and other authorities.GSPCB said that the response of Hilltop to the show-cause notice issued was found unsatisfactory “as your establishment is a predominant generator of noise in the vicinity”. The board said that attributing the noise to other unconfirmed sources is not factually and technically feasible.“Failure to transmit real time online noise monitoring data from the online noise monitoring station at your establishment has not been denied by your nor have you intimated to this office regarding technical issues with the noise monitoring station. Hence the reply submitted by you is unacceptable and unsatisfactory,” said the board.
