Goa, Jan. 21 -- The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued an unequivocal warning that playing music beyond 10 pm is illegal under central noise pollution laws, with no ex-emptions for weddings, po-litical functions, religious events or public gatherings.

Addressing a press con-ference at the Secretariat in Porvorim, GSPCB chairper-son Levinson Martins said music after 10 pm is permit-ted only on 15 notified days in a calendar year, strictly as provided under the law. Any deviation, he said, would in-vite stringent action.

To enforce compliance, the board has introduced a graded penalty regime: Rs 20,000 for the first offence, Rs 40,000 for the second and Rs 1 lakh for repeated violations.

In addition to monetary penaltie...