The Congress Party today demanded that offshore casino vessels be banned in Goa holding them responsible for pollution in the Mandovi river, the water of which has been certified as unsafe for bathing and fishing.

“The high level of bacteria present in River Mandovi water is going to be an environmental hazard affecting the people living around this waterbody. The offshore casino vessels are obvious reasons for this pollution. We demand immediate ban on these vessels,” Goa Congress spokesman Ulhas Parab told reporters today.

The recent report by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had established high levels of bacterial presence in the Mandovi certifying that it was not fit for bathing, fishing and water sports activity.

The board had claimed that the bacterial presence was due to release of sewerage in the water, but had said that the offshore casino vessels were not releasing their untreated sewerage in it.

Parab said the bacterial presence is 65 per cent more than the permissible levels, due to which people who depend on fishing activity in this river are likely to suffer.

“How can the pollution control board give a clean chit to offshore casinos when the reason for the high level of bacteria is release of sewerage. There is no other source of sewerage other than offshore casinos here,” the spokesman claimed.

GSPCB had conducted the study following the directive of the National Green Tribunal, which is currently hearing the case against offshore casino vessels.

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