Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) appointed agency has said that the offshore casino vessels are not indulging in polluting River Mandovi.
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Following directions from National Green Tribunal (NGT), the GSPCB appointed TUV-SUD India firm conducted the water audit of all six offshore casinos, anchored in River Mandovi, to know the process adopted by the casinos for wastewater discharge.
The report was placed before Board meeting held last month, wherein it was informed that “findings of the report state that there is no pollution from casinos into River Mandovi”. The report will be now placed before NGT.
During the meeting, Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro informed that the exercise was required to be carried out since a matter had come up in the High Court and NGT that the River Mandovi was stressed due to discharge of sewage by the casino operator.
She further informed that casino/cruise vessels are required to mount a tank for collection of sewage generated in the vessel. The said tank is locked and the same is opened in the presence of the officials of the Board and the Captain of Ports for discharge into the sewage tankers for treatment in the Sewage Treatment Plant. The records of the sewage collected and transported are maintained by the Board.
GSPCB in September 2019 had proposed the water audit of all the operational casino vessels.
The water audit was conducted in January 2020 and the report was being scrutinised by the Board to further strengthen the mechanism to address the data-gaps, if any, and rejuvenate the river.
The Congress had cornered Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral during the Monsoon Session of the State Legislative Assembly, last year over failure to monitor water quality of River Mandovi, alleging contamination due to discharge of waste by casinos.
