Mandovi water polluted due to casino vessels: Cong; seeks NIO

The Congress will write to the Centre to conduct the water quality test of Mandovi river in Goa through the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), which the party said has become polluted due to anchoring of the offshore casino vessels.

Currently, five vessels mounted with casino are anchored in the river alongside Panaji.

"The party will write a letter to Union Minister for Environment and Forest (MOEF) Harsh Vardhan requesting him that directions be given to the NIO to conduct the water quality test of Mandovi river, which has become polluted due to anchoring of the offshore casino vessels," Goa Congress president Shantaram Naik told reporters today.

He said NIO should conduct a detailed study about the "ecological damage" caused to Miramar beach near Panaji due to grounding of a casino vessel last month.

"We demand that a panel of experts should be roped in to examine if the ship could be towed or dismantled at the same site," he said.

The Congress last week demanded "fixing the responsibility" in grounding of Casino Lucky 7 at the famous beach on July 13 when it was being shifted to the Mandovi river from the Mormugao Harbour.

The party had said the vessel was a "lurking ecological hazard" at the beach.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)