Goa government has asked all the six off shore casinos to suspend their operations and sealed restaurants of five of them for not having food and drugs licence.
The step follows huge outcry over the pollution caused by these off-shore casinos.
The state government body -- Goa State Pollution Control Board -- on Tuesday directed all the six casino operators to suspend their operations on the grounds of pollution.
The board noticed that the off-shore casino operators had failed to obtain its authorisation under rule 5 (1) of the Hazardous Waste Rules.
All the six off-shore casinos -- M V San Domino (Capitol Power Ltd), M V Caravela (Waterways Shipyard), M V The Leela (Hotel Leela Ventures), M V Pride of Goa (Goa Coastal Resorts and Recreation), M V Casino Royale (Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment), M V Arabian Sea King (Victor Hotels and Motels) -- were served directions through local police.
The board has issued directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 read with Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1989 as amended in 2008.
The officials have quoted the directions of Supreme Court which has directed the State Pollution Control Boards to close forthwith, units that are operating without authorisation as required under the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1989.
"The off-shore casino vessels were inspected by the board officials recently and had found that the vessel generates used oil and waste oil which is classified as Hazardous Waste Under the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1989," a board official stated.
"These casinos were operating in the Mandovi river without our permission. They need to seek our licence before starting their operations again," GSPCB member secretary Ashok Daiwajna told PTI.
Following the GSPCB, another government authority, the FDA has also cracked down on the restaurants operational on these vessels.
The FDA officials raided these restaurants and sealed restaurants on five off-shore casinos which had no permission.
