PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa is expected to hear a petition today that challenged the order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) restraining offshore casino vessel Deltin Carevela from operating without requisite CRZ clearance.
M/s Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd that owns the offshore casino vessel anchored in River Mandovi, moved the high court against this order last weekend.
The Principal Bench headed by Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel also directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to assess and recover compensation for damage to the environment on account of operations by the Deltin Carevala, without requisite CRZ clearance, following due process of law.
The NGT’s order was based on social activist Kashinath Shetye’s appeal challenging the permissibility of activities of Deltin Carevela by operating in CRZ-IV area, without requisite CRZ clearance in terms of CRZ Notification, 2011.
The applicant had pointed out that the Deltin Carevela vessel falls under CRZ- IV zone which is within 12 nautical miles (i.e. buffer zone) in the river and due to which fishing activities are hampered as there will be harm caused for breeding of the fishes in the said area. He stated that getting a ship having 10 floors and just placing it in the River and conducting commercial activities within it is not correct and there should be some regulations imposed on such activities.
