PANAJI: The Minister for Tourism, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco on Tuesday informed the House in a written reply that the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is not aware of haphazard dumping of garbage generated in the off-shore casinos, at its sites, by various garbage collecting agencies.

Stating that the garbage and sewage generated by the off-shore casinos and other boats in River Mandovi is brought to the shore within the CCP’s jurisdiction, the Minister for Tourism said that agencies namely M/s C-Farm Products and Services, Tivim; M/s George and Sons Marine Suppliers, Vasco da Gama; M/s Numetic Maintenance, Aldona; and M/s Kamyab Ship Chandlers, Vasco da Gama are in charge of this job.

Speaking further, Mr Pacheco said that no permission has been obtained by these agencies from the CCP for disposal of this garbage and sewage on land.

He also maintained that no such permission has been obtained from the Goa State Pollution Control Board.

"It is informed by the GSPCB that M/s C-Farm Products and Services is segregating the waste at site," the Minister for Tourism said, noting that the bio-degradable waste is disposed to piggeries and the re-cycleable waste such as paper and plastic is sold to re-cyclers.

"The agencies collecting sewage are disposing the sewage at the sewage treatment plant of the Public Works Department at Tonca," he pointed out.

"However, the CCP is not aware that many of these agencies dump garbage at the CCP site," the information stated.