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In an effort to woo more tourists, the Goa government is planning to relax the ban on loud music after 10 pm.
The Centre had issued guidelines in this regard under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000. Subsequently, the Supreme Court had imposed a nationwide ban.
"We are working out a mechanism to relax the ban," Tourism Minister Mickey Pacheco said, adding he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Last year the state had relaxed the ban for midnight Christmas mass and post-mass street dances. The argument that was extended was that like Lord Krishna, Jesus Christ was born at midnight and such festivities could not be prohibited.
"We are considering certain proposals, subject to legal opinion and need of tourism as well as the people in terms of religious festivals," Parrikar said.
Prior to the directive from the Centre, the state was following the Madhya Pradesh Control of Music and Noises Act since 1977. Following a high court order, the government amended the legislation to allow late-night music.
"We are not getting high spending tourists since there are no golf courses, casinos and nightlife," said Pacheco, a non-resident Indian-turned politician.
Thought the government said it did not support gambling, it allowed a casino to function offshore claiming that it was permitted by the erstwhile Congress regime.
"More such casinos allowed in the existing anti-gambling act may be permitted," said Parrikar.
Unlike like last year, when there were not many tourists due to the attacks in the United States, hordes have come this year, the state tourism department claimed.
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