Baga locals protest loud music played by shacks at night

CALANGUTE: Citing failure by the police to stop private shacks from playing loud music at night, a group of residents of Baga and Calangute have decided to take matters in their own hands and not allow any loud music to be played in open air beach shacks, private shacks and hotels post 10 pm.

Four shacks were identified which were playing loud music at night and their managements were asked to stop the music.

Speaking to reporters at Baga on Saturday, shack owner John Lobo said, “When we complain to the police about some shacks playing loud music after 10pm, they come and shut down the music. But once the police leave, the shacks restart the music and sometimes it goes on till 6am. Worst affected are school children and senior citizens. Recently, around 25 of us got together under the title of ‘Youth of Sauntavaddo’ and visited the shacks playing loud music and managed to get them to stop it.”

Claiming that they are not against against playing of music, Lobo says that at night, it should be restricted to indoors venues and in soundproof nightclubs.

Fr Lawry Trinidade, head of Baga’s Jesuit Retreat House said the loud music was disturbing visitors to the retreat house as well as neighbouring residents who sought his intervention to stop the noise pollution.