Govt adds 2 Iffi days to list of noise ban relaxations for 2025

Panaji: To the annual list of days when the state environment department provides relaxation to the noise ban on playing music beyond a certain time, the department has added the first two days of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi), which is hosted by Goa every year.
Under sub-rule (3) of Rule 5 of the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000, the environment department is the authority to permit the use of loudspeakers or public address systems during night hours, which is from 10pm to midnight on select days during the year.
In 2025, the sound norms will be relaxed on Nov 20 and 21 for Iffi, the latest notification states.
The other days in 2025 when the relaxation will be applicable are March 4, the last day of the Carnival, on April 20 for Easter eve, on Aug 28 for the second day of idol immersion during Ganesh Chaturthi, on Aug 31 for the fifth day of idol immersion for Ganesh Chaturthi, on Sep 6 for Anant Chaturdashi.
The relaxation will also be applicable on Oct 1 for the last day of Navaratri, on Oct 19 for Diwali eve, for Nov 21 and 22 for Iffi, on Dec 24 for Christmas eve, and from Dec 28 to New Year’s eve or Dec 31.
“The permission shall be granted only on a case-to-case basis, in response to a specific application made by the concerned village panchayat, municipal corporation/municipal council or an individual in the state. The provisions of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, shall be strictly complied with. The ‘authority’ concerned shall monitor the noise levels during the permitted occasion, and take prompt remedial action in the event of any violation of the same and of the above conditions,” reads the notification.