A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit S. Jamsandekar has directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to conduct inspections and third-party water audits of casino and cruise vessels operating on the River Mandovi. The Court also ordered the Board to initiate proceedings under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, against entities found violating their Consent to Operate (CTO) conditions.
The directions were issued during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation registered as High Court on its Own Motion (In the Matter of the Dead Fish Found Floating in Mala Lake) v. State of Goa [Public Interest Litigation (Suo Motu) No. 2 of 2026]. The matter was originally initiated following the discovery of dead fish floating in Mala Lake.
What triggered the High Court's directive for a water audit of casino vessels on the Mandovi River?
The Court acted on an interim report by the GSPCB on monsoon water quality which revealed that faecal coliform levels in samples collected from the River Mandovi exceeded the permissible limit of 100 MPN per 100 ml. The highest readings were recorded near the cruise and casino jetties, prompting the Bench to order immediate inspections and third-party audits of the vessels operating in those stretches.
According to the Board's interim report, preliminary inspections of four casino vessels were conducted on October 27, 2026, to verify compliance with CTO conditions. The Advocate General informed the Bench that inspections of cruise vessels were also underway. The Board further stated that it was arranging third-party water audits of casino vessels through empanelled agencies, an exercise expected to take three months. The Advocate General assured the Court that immediate action under the Water Act would be taken against violators in the interim period.
The Bench directed the Board to submit a detailed report within three months setting out its inspection findings and the action taken against polluters found to be in breach of CTO conditions or the provisions of the Water Act. The Court further required the Board to place on record reports on the samples collected and the measures taken to stop the discharge of sewage and wastewater into the river from both banks.
Extending the scope of the inquiry, the Court directed the Board to verify sewage discharge and CTO compliance for establishments situated along Rua de Ourem Creek and St. Inez Creek. An interim report on this verification was sought by the next date of hearing. Additionally, the Board was instructed to undertake a qualitative and quantitative assessment of water quality in both creeks. The GSPCB was asked to prepare a study proposal covering pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon sampling, laboratory analysis, and assessment of collected data, and to commence the work immediately. A copy of the proposal is to be placed before the Court on the next hearing date.
With specific reference to Mala Lake, the Bench directed the Board to assess water quality at least once every month. In the event that any parameter exceeds permissible limits, the Board is required to take remedial measures, identify the source of pollution, and ensure that action under the Water Act is initiated against those responsible.
Location / Subject | Court Direction | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
Casino & Cruise Vessels (River Mandovi) | Inspections & third-party water audits; action under Water Act against violators | Detailed report within 3 months |
Rua de Ourem Creek & St. Inez Creek | Verify sewage discharge & CTO compliance; qualitative & quantitative water quality assessment | Interim report by next hearing; study proposal immediately |
Mala Lake | Monthly water quality assessment; remedial measures & Water Act action if limits exceeded | Ongoing monthly monitoring |
The Court's order reflects a comprehensive approach to addressing pollution in the Mandovi river system, linking vessel-specific compliance with broader creek and lake monitoring. The matter remains pending for further compliance reporting.