Off-shore casinos shifting: Goa government yet to assess impact on environment

PANAJI: Goa government today admitted that they are yet to conduct a study about impact on environment once the off-shore casino vessels are shifted to various locations from River Mandovi.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told State Legislative Assembly in a written reply that environment impact assessment study is yet to be conducted as the matter related to shifting of casinos is in the preliminary stage.

The State government has announced that the shifting of casino-mounted vessels from Mandovi River would begin from September onwards.

The Chief Minister was responding to a question tabled by Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte.

Parsekar said, "The Government of Goa has entrusted the task to the Captain of Ports Department for exploring the possibilities of relocating all the four off-shore casino vessels."

The locals have been complaining about existence of off- shore casinos in River Mandovi which is adjacent to capital city of Panaji. The state has four off shore casino vessels.

"As per information provided by the Department of Environment by the Captain of Ports Department, it has undertaken various inspections and verified several sites within the inland waterways of Goa," Parsekar said.