By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SP)
 
Panaji, Mar 18: The off shore casinos have started feeling the pinch of the stringent state government rules, which hitherto, they had ignored.
 
On Tuesday March 17, Goa government asked all the six offshore casino operators to suspend their operations for their alleged water and air pollution.
 
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has directed all the off shore casinos to suspend their operations forthwith, for not obtaining  the permission of the GSPCB, which is mandatory for the units producing hazardous waste.
 
The off shore casinos had been served with notices for contaminating Mandovi river water by discharging their sewerage into the river basin.
 
The directions have been issued to all the vessels – MV San Domino (Capitol Power Ltd), M V Caravela (M/s Waterways Shipyard Pvt Ltd), M V The Leela (M/s Hotel Leela Ventures Ltd.), MV Pride of Goa (M/s Goa Coastal Resorts and Recreation Pvt Ltd.), M V Casino Royale (M/s Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment pvt ltd) and M V Arabian Sea King (M/s Victor Hotels and Motels Ltd).
 
The Board has taken serious note of the fact that the operators had failed to obtain the authorization as required under rule 5 (1) of the Hazardous Waste Rules.
 
The state government has taken action against the concerned, under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 read with Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1989 as amended in 2008.
 
The GSPCB, which had during all these years, ignored the acts of violations, was forced to act after the leader of the opposition in the state assembly Manohar Parrikar wrote to the Board, seeking details of the casinos.
 
Parrikar had pointed out that the vessels were directly discharging waste into the Mandovi river water, as they are not equipped with treatment plants on these vessels.
 
While the Board on Tuesday night served the directions, another government agency, Food and Drugs Administration, sealed the restaurants of five off shore casinos.
 
These restaurants were not having the FDA permissions.