Goa CM orders shifting of casino vessel away from sanctuary

Amid a controversy surrounding the anchoring of a casino vessel near Dr Salim Ali bird sanctuary, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today ordered the Captain of Ports Department to move the vessel away.
Following Parsekar's orders, the local residents, who had been protesting against the anchoring of the vessel near the sanctuary, suspended their agitation.
The bird sanctuary is located at the western tip of Chorao island along the river Mandovi.
"I have ordered the Captain of Ports Department to move the casino vessel (MV Deltin Caravela) away from the bird sanctuary. Till the alternate arrangements are made, the vessel would be stationed near Panaji in Mandovi river," Parsekar told a delegation of protesters today.

Panaji BJP MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar was also present when the delegation met Parsekar at his official residence at Altinho in Panaji.
Ribandar villagers living adjacent to the sanctuary had been protesting on the issue. They had called for a bandh on Monday pressing for their demand to move the vessel, which was ecologically disturbing the bird sanctuary.

Social activist Aires Rodrigues, who was leading the agitation, said they have suspended the agitation following the chief minister's orders.
Rodrigues said before meeting the CM, they had met Governor Mridula Sinha with their demand.
An eleven-member delegation of Ribandar residents, led by local politicians, had called on the Governor Mridula Sinha at the Raj Bhavan and submitted the memorandum.

The casino vessel, anchored near the bird sanctuary had become the bone of contention with National Green Tribunal issuing notice to the state government on the issue.