As the polling date for the Lok Sabha polls draws closer, The Navhind Times rounds up the some of the high-decibel issues that formed the cornerstones for candidates’ campaigns this elections in a bid to gauge if these stand to make any impression of the voters’ decision. Will these issues weigh heavy or will party politics triump
Noise ban conundrum
Panaji: Goa, known for its vibrant nightlife, has been grappling with the issue of noise pollution, particularly in the popular coastal tourism belt. While the state has noise pollution regulations in place, their enforcement has been inadequate, leading to complaints from residents raising concerns over the impact on health and the environment.
The state has strict noise pollution rules regulated by the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
The rules prohibit the use of firecrackers between 10pm and 6am as well as music and loudspeakers.
The recent revision of noise rules exempts small functions under 100 people, private residential events, and religious events from permission but prohibits loud music beyond 10pm for large gatherings. Additionally, loudspeakers in open areas still need prior approval. The noise ban has affected the tourism sector and event organisers, given its impact on the visitor experience.
In the densely populated coastal belt in North Goa, where locals and tourists jostle for space, the effect of the noise ban is acutely felt by the many pubs, clubs, and restaurants that dot the stretch. However, despite the post-10 pm music ban and repeated assurances by the authorities, some clubs and pubs continue to organise loud parties that go on into the early hours of the morning.
The price is then paid by the locals who reside in the vicinity, as the noise pollution takes a toll on health and disrupts the peace and quiet they look for in the evening hours.
There is no win-win in this situation, as on the one hand is the economy of the place and on the other is the citizens’ health.
Members of Parliament can influence noise regulations by advocating for policy changes by getting entertainment zones and incentivizing compliance through recognition programmes, fund allocation for purchasing advanced monitoring equipment, public engagement, inter-ministerial coordination, and awareness campaigns.
Mhadei issue and the vote flow
Panaji: Goa’s fight against the diversion of the Mhadei River is still ongoing, even after the Mhadei Interstate Water Dispute Tribunal passed its order on August 14, 2018. The ruling BJP government in the state has filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging the tribunal order. A contempt plea has also been filed against Karnataka for violating court directives.
Following the tribunal’s order, Karnataka stepped up its efforts to get the Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project going. It seemed to have the support of the central government, much to the discomfort of the Goa government.
Interestingly, all three states moved the Supreme Court against the decision.
Politics over the issue heated up in Goa a few months ago after the Central Water Commission granted approval to Karnataka’s DPR for the Kalasa-Bandura project.
Following demands, the state government constituted a House Committee on the Mhadei issue. However, except for one sitting, the committee failed to meet again. The only positive for Goa on the issue is that the Centre has constituted the Mhadei PRAWAH authority, which met recently and agreed to a joint inspection of the site where the Karnataka government has begun work in violation of the court directives.
While the opposition has not been able to put the BJP on the mat on this issue, it is to be seen to what extent the Mhadei issue will influence voting on May 7.
Burning issue of tiger reserve
Panaji: The notification of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve is hanging fire, as the state government has challenged the July 2023 judgment of the High Court of Bombay at Goa directing it to notify the reserve within three months in the Supreme Court.
The direction came on a petition filed by an NGO.
Environmentalists and activists have been demanding the tiger reserve be notified. However, the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government has taken a contradictory stand on the matter, claiming that this will lead to a conflict of interest between the forest dwellers and forest conservators.
The court has directed the state to prepare a tiger conservation plan as per the Wildlife Protection Act and submit it to the National Tiger Conservation Authority within the same timeframe.
The NGO once again approached the court over the authorities’ failure to implement the directions, but the state government filed a miscellaneous civil application before the HC seeking an extension to notify the reserve.
When the state approached the Supreme Court against the High Court order, the apex court refused to stay it and issued notices to the petitioner as well as the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Goa State Board for Wildlife, the Goa Forest Department, and the Chief Wildlife Warden.
Activists and environmentalists dissatisfied with the BJP government’s stand on various issues have extended their support to the South Goa INDIA bloc Congress candidate. It remains to be seen whether the conservation of the state’s environment and ecology will carry weight on the Lok Sabha mandate outcome.
Coal dust, double-tracking: Achilles heel?
Margao: As Goa braces to participate in the world’s largest festival of democracy on May 7, the 2020 anti-coal agitation and opposition to the three linear projects could bite the BJP›s calculations in its bid to win the South Goa seat for the third time.
The INDIA bloc has been hot on its heels on the issue of coal pollution and double-tracking of the railway line connecting the Mormugao Port Authority and Karnataka, but the BJP has played down the anti-coal agitation, blaming the Congress for bringing coal to Goa.
The party has focused on the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 10-year reign and the Vikisit Bharat narrative, but party insiders say that coal pollution and double-tracking could prove to be the party’s Achilles heel, especially in Mormugao, Dabolim, and Vasco constituencies.
The government is clear on its stand that the three infrastructure projects will not be scrapped, much to the dismay of Goans who have been protesting to get them revoked.
The government has denied that the double-tracking project is for coal transportation. Instead, it claims the project is to improve connectivity and boost domestic tourism.
Vasco Dabolim and Mormugao constituencies, where the BJP is looking to gain a sizeable lead to reduce the ‘Salcete’ impact, could face reversals as two of the three continue to reel under pollution from the coal handling. The neighbouring Cortalim constituency has been facing continued protests over the double-tracking.
CZMP: Who will save the traditional houses?
Panaji: The Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), mandated by the Centre, aims to regulate developmental activities along the coast, while the Coasta Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification restricts construction within a certain distance from the high-tide line (HTL) and in eco-sensitive areas.
In Goa, the CRZ is currently regulated by the 2011 notification, which restricts no-development zones (NDZs) from 0-200m from the HTL of the landward side of the seafront and 0-100m from tidal-influenced water bodies, like rivers.
However, Goa is yet to complete the work on the draft CZMP 2019, which will incorporate the CRZ 2019 provisions under which the CRZ extent will be 0-500m from the HTL of the landward side of the seafront and 0-100m from tidal-influenced water bodies, like rivers, and will be NDZ. The deadline for CZMP 2019 lapsed on October 31, 2023, and the state sought time till May 2024 to complete the plan.
However, the Goa CZMP 2011 approved in 2022 has faced backlash from various quarters over issues like wrong zoning of beach areas, mapping errors, and the inclusion of illegal constructions.
Environmentalists allege the plan favours real estate over coastal protection.
People are now looking for their MPs to advocate for legal changes, making comprehensive environmental impact assessments mandatory for all development projects in CRZ areas, regardless of project size.
Additionally, they want them to work to protect traditional houses from demolition and allow residents to continue small businesses on their premises for additional income without adding floors or converting their structures to commercial ones.
CRZ tangle
Panaji: Goa’s coastline has been facing challenges due to ineffective implementation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, leading to unregulated construction and environmental degradation.
The CRZ notification, issued by the Centre, aims to regulate activities in coastal areas and protect the fragile ecosystem. However, violations of these norms in Goa are the highest in the country in terms of the number of complaints, right from illegal constructions and sand mining to encroachments on beaches and coastal areas.
The state’s failure to enforce the norms has drawn criticism from various stakeholders, including environmentalists and the National Green Tribunal.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) lacks expertise in key areas like coastal ecology and hydrodynamics, weakening stakeholder representation. Further, the non-scientific GCZMA members have no knowledge of the CRZ provisions, coastal ecosystems, or administrative procedures, making it difficult for them to identify violations.
Goa saw conflicts between locals and the authorities over CRZ implementation after the High Court recently ordered the sealing of 175 illegal structures in Anjuna.
This issue has the battle lines drawn between two sides: one that justifies the violation and vilifies the court-ordered crackdown as targeting the locals’ businesses, and the other that is fighting for the preservation of the coastal ecology.