----- LAME DUCK CASINOS OUT TO DESTROY MANDOVI RIVER AND THE GOAN SOCIETY AT LARGE
During my visit to Member Secretary of Goa State Coastal Management Authority ( GCZMA) on 26th July 2016, I have interacted on various issues pertaining to casinos menace at River Mandovi which are destroying the Goan society at large. I have also indicated that Capt of Ports ( CoP) just keeps on issuing licenses to umpteen casinos, cruise boats and other pleasure boats without conducting scientific study of carrying capacity of our river Mandovi. This should be curtailed by the concerned authority. Almost all the casinos are creating pollution in the rivers which is alarming. Especially when they are stationering at single point for longer period of time, their bottom plates gets corroded with formation of barnacles. Visitors, tourists , and other customers who are going for gambling on casinos are seen throwing empty bottles, food packets, and other garbage waste etc into the river thus polluting our river Mandovi. It is mandatory as per the DG shipping Act to have MMD ( Marine Mercantile Department) safety check and IRS ( Indian Registration of Shipping) approvals periodically done. Also the bottom plate which gives wear and tear must be inspected for the thickness by acoustic sounding equipment which is performed on dry docking of the vessel.This is the duty of the CoP to get all approvals from time to time which is not done in these cases. This will have an impact on Environment and the Ecology of Mandovi estuary if the approvals are not obtained. Stephen Dias, Dona Paula Former Scientist of NIO. (Also was looking after the duties of NIO Research vessels) Date: 28th July 2016 Mob: 9422443110. .
