PANJIM: The Congress party has decided to approach the Union Minister for Environment and Forest (MOEF) Harsh Vardhan demanding that directions be issued to National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to test the water quality in River Mandovi, which, it said, is polluted due to anchoring of off shore casino vessels.   

“On Monday I will be writing to the Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan demanding that NIO be directed to conduct water quality test of River Mandovi. The river water is polluted due to the casinos, which are discharging waste,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Shantaram Naik told media persons. 

He said that recently he held a meeting with the NIO officials and made same request. 

The former MP reiterated that NIO should also conduct a detailed study of the ecological damage caused to Miramar beach due to the grounding of the casino vessel Lucky 7, which has now started to sink. “As per media report the vessel has developed 12 meter crack and it is sinking,” he said. 

“We demand that expert panel should be roped in to examine if the ship could be towed or be dismantled at the same site,” he said adding that Goa is heading for disaster in form of Lucky 7 casino vessel. 

Congress leader questioned as despite criminal negligence, why no FIR is been filed against the owner or the abettor. He said that company should be made to pay the compensation to the environmental damage it has caused to the beach.