THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Following concerns raised by the Bombay High Court at Goa over the “very high” levels of faecal coliform bacteria detected in the River Mandovi along stretches where offshore casinos operate, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to conduct an audit of casinos and cruise vessels operating in the estuary to review their consent compliance status.
The Board will also review the functioning and compliance of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) located at the fish landing jetties at Malim, Patto and St Inez as part of a broader exercise to identify possible sources contributing to river pollution.
“As the Court directed the Board to take necessary action as deemed appropriate based on the available data, the Consent Compliance Status will be reviewed of the operational casinos, cruises vessels operating within Mandovi estuary, sewage treatment plants located at the fish landing jetties at Malim, Patto and St Inez,” reads the minutes of the recently held meeting.
Acting on the High Court’s directions for a comprehensive assessment of water quality, GSPCB has proposed an extensive sampling and monitoring plan covering the Mandovi estuary stretch between the IFFI Jetty downstream and the Mandovi Bridge upstream. The Board issues Consent to Establish and Operate to the casinos under Water and Air Act.
“The Court observed that the main issue that needs to be addressed would be the very high quantity of faecal coliform bacteria, which is present in the said river around the area where the casinos are operating. The Court has directed that this study shall more particularly stress on collecting the information as to the quality of water around each of the casinos stationed there or any other marine craft which are used for tourism purposes within that area,” the Board said.
A total of 15 sampling locations have been identified. These include ten sampling points around the five operational casinos. For each casino, one sample will be collected from a point approximately 10 metres from the vessel's periphery, while another will be taken from the mid-stream of the river directly parallel to the casino.
Sampling will be carried out during both high and low tides in the pre-monsoon period, monsoon (August 2026) and post-monsoon season (October-November 2026). During each monitoring exercise, 30 water samples will be collected and analysed for parameters prescribed under the Central Pollution Control Board's SW-II category standards for designated best use of rivers. The samples will additionally be tested for nitrate and nitrite concentrations.
The Board's latest decision signals an intensified scrutiny of floating casinos, cruise vessels and associated sewage infrastructure amid judicial concerns that untreated waste discharges may be contributing to deteriorating water quality in Goa's most important river system.
