PANAJI
With the High Court declining to admit its petition, the Deltin Caravela on Tuesday stopped casino operations after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered it to shut operations till the company obtained a Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
Based on the NGT order on April 29, the GCZMA was in the process of taking action but the casino management decided to shut operations.
GCZMA Member Secretary Dashrath Redkar had already written to Casino Caravela stating that action would be initiated based on the NGT order.
As there was a public holiday on Tuesday, the GCZMA had plans to take action on the casino ship on Wednesday.
The NGT has ordered the Deltin group, the owners of Deltin Caravela, to cease operations of the casino-cum-hotel until they obtain permission from the GCZMA.
The casino operator had tried to approach the Bombay High Court at Goa, but decided to withdraw its petition after the HC indicated that it was not inclined to admit it.
The High Court allowed the casino operator permission to withdraw its petition and approach the Supreme Court instead.
In an order passed based on an application filed by activist Kashinath Shetye, the NGT had ruled that the nature of the hotel and casino operations in the River Mandovi meant it came under the ambit of the CRZ notification since it involved ‘foreshore facilities’.
The NGT had also directed the State Pollution Control Board to assess and recover compensation for damage to the environment on account of operations of the Project Proponent without requisite CRZ clearance.
