The High Court of Bombay at Goa has expanded the scope of a suo moto public interest litigation (PIL) initially taken up over reports of dead fish floating in Mala Lake to include the River Mandovi. Taking note of growing environmental concerns, the bench has directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to carry out a qualitative and quantitative study of Mandovi’s water, focusing especially on stretches where floating casino ships are anchored.
The Court has asked the GSPCB to submit a detailed study report along with an action taken report by the first week of June, underlining the need for scientific data on pollution levels and their impact on aquatic life. The move comes amid fears that discharge from vessels and other activities may be contributing to ecological stress in one of Goa’s key river systems.
