Arlekar wants Deltin Caravela out from near bird sanctuary

PANJIM: Taking serious note of the environmental damage it can cause, Forests and Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar has decided to direct Home Department and Captain of Ports (CoP) to immediately shift the casino vessel ‘Deltin Caravela’ currently anchored near the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
CoP’s failure to submit a report on permission granted to Caravela to moor near the bird sanctuary at Ribandar to the Minister, forced him to take suo-moto cognizance of the issue and direct Forest Department to issue directions to Home Department and CoP to shift the casino vessel immediately.
“Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the sole bird sanctuary of the State and it is a protected area. Any kind of nuisance within the radius of the protected areas can have direct impact on the birds and ecology,” Arlekar said adding that Forest Department in its report has objected to the anchoring of the vessel pointing that it is within 100 meters of the bird sanctuary.
He said the vessel is currently responsible for noise, air and sound pollution impacting the birds and environment. “Directions are issued to Forest Department to ask CoP to immediately shift the vessel from the sanctuary’s vicinity,” he said.
The statement came hours after Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar ruled out the possibility of asking the casino operator to shift from Ribandar.
Arlekar expressed his complete disappointment over CoP’s act not to furnish details of the vessel. “Last week I had sought a report from CoP but till today they have not submitted it. This is not acceptable. So finally, I decided to take suo-moto,” he said.