PANJIM, MAY 21
Inspections carried out by the Goa State Pollution Control Board of 12 cruise boats on River Mandovi operating from the Captain of Ports Jetty, here, revealed most of these were discharging their wastewater and sewage water directly into the river.
The inspections on the 12 cruise boats were carried out on May 12, 2010 after the Board received complaints alleging that the same were causing noise pollution and environmental pollution by dumping garbage under the Patto Bridge, discharging sewage in the river and dumping solid waste in the vicinity of the CoP jetty.
Besides, most of these were found operating without obtaining the necessary Water Consent and Air Consent and Hazardous Waste authorisation from the GSPCB. They were also found with noise levels above the permissible limits during the entertaining hours in the evening.
Two among the 10 cruise boats belong to the Goa Tourism and Development Corporation bringing to light how the Government too was party to the environmental degradation of the river.
The cruise boats causing contamination in the river are: M V Paradise and M V Paradise II operated by M/s Paradise Ventures, M V Santa Monica and M V Shantadurga of GTDC, M V Princesa de Goa and M V Royal Cruise of Priyadarshini River Cruise, M V Coral Queen of M/s Aqua World, M V Swasti, of M/s Swasti Cruises.
During the inspection it was found that the sewage of M V Barcolento operated by M/s Coastal Ventures Pvt Ltd was collected and disposed at a municipal sewage treatment plant. It was learnt it has also obtained Hazardous Waste authorisation and was in the process of seeking Water Consent and Air Consent.
The inspecting staff of the GSPCB learnt from a cruise representative that M V Rose Royal of Priyadarshini River Cruise was not in operation as its NOC from the Captain of Ports had expired. They learnt from M V Swasti Vijaya of Swasti Cruises that the boat was using the toilet facilities only in case of emergencies.
M V Paradise, M V Paradise II, M V Santa Monica and M V Shantadurga were not able to quantify their waste water generation per day and a few of the 12 cruise boats had no documentation related to the disposal of the used oil generated on the vessels. It was learnt from some boats that the used oil was taken by the staff, but it wasn’t mentioned where it was taken and how it was disposed.
Chairman GSPCB Simon de Souza said they were in the process of issuing show-cause notices to the cruise boats asking them to comply with the norms set by the Board and obtain the necessary permissions.
