Last April the National Green Tribunal had directed the casino owners to obtain the required environment impact assessment (EIA) report as per Coastal Regulation Zone to operate up to 12 nautical miles. In April 2023, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) found that the owners had submitted documents regarding information about the vessels but none had enclosed EIA reports. Yet, the GCZMA decided to grant in-principle approval for the casinos to continue their operations and that the final NOC will be granted after obtaining the EIA reports. Hope the GCZMA has set a date to receive the EIA reports. Within a year a full-fledged or at least a rapid EIA study, which takes 1-3 months, could have been conducted by the casinos’ owners by sharing the cost of the investigations. The GCZMA could similarly give in-principle approval to shacks, industries and factories that do not have EIA reports. These small time (monetarily) enterprises, as compared to the casinos, need more support and encouragement to operate their businesses. Hope the authorities will help them by not insisting on final EIA reports.
