GSPCB to issue show-cause notice over encashment of Sunburn bank guarantee

Panaji: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) informed the high court of Bombay at Goa that it will issue a show-cause notice to respondent No.10, Spacebound Web Labs Pvt Ltd, as to why the bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh furnished by them as security for compliance with all rules and regulations should not be encashed over the alleged noise pollution at Sunburn Festival.
Based on instructions from GSPCB, advocate Pavithran A V stated that “GSPCB will launch prosecution against the violators by the end of January”. He submitted that the material collected by the GSPCB establishes violations and it is sufficient to launch such prosecution. Therefore, he proposes that all necessary procedural formalities be complied with and the prosecution be launched.
“The statements made by Pavithran on behalf of GSPCB are accepted. This matter is now posted for further consideration on January 24,” a division bench comprising justices M S Sonak and Bharat P Deshpande observed.
The public interest litigant complains that respondent No.10 organised the electronic dance music festival in breach of the permission dated December 28, 2022, the Noise Pollution Rules and directions issued by this court from time to time by brazenly exceeding the 55dB(A) limit imposed by the permission and the rules.
The public interest litigant also complains that the authorities who are duty-bound to monitor the noise pollution levels are most reluctant to take any effective action against the violations perpetrated by respondent No.10. Based on all this, the public interest litigant moved the vacation judge of this court on December 30, 2022, and applied for certain interim reliefs pending disposal of the petition.