Team Herald
PANJIM: The Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd, the promoter of the Lucky 7 casino vessel, will have to bear the financial burden of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study that National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) would be undertaking to assess the environmental damage caused by the vessel to the Miramar beach.
A three-member NIO team headed by principal scientist Dr Jaykumar along with officials of environment department, will be undertaking the EIA study, which will ascertain the damage caused to the biodiversity and the waters of River Mandovi due to the casino vessel, which was grounded at the beach for around 70 days.
Sources confirmed that Environment department has received the proposal from NIO which has estimated total cost of Rs 55 lakh plus additional taxes. “The department will first study the proposal and then forward the same to the Lucky 7 owner, as they have to bear the burden of the study,” sources said.
Sources said that court in its order has clearly said that the vessel owner would be held responsible for any damage to the environment.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has sent two reminders to the vessel owner to immediately submit a bank guarantee of Rs one crore as to mend the damage caused to the environment.
As reported by Herald earlier, retired NIO scientist Antonio Mascarenhas has confirmed that the Miramar shoreline has started showing signs of damage with augmented soil erosion and wave-cut vertical scrap along the frontal pioneer dune due to the vessel.
