Porvorim: Water samples around the casinos anchored in Mandovi were tested by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) at five locations over the years, and the water has shown presence of faecal coliform above the permissible limit for every month since 2022. During some months, the levels were up 200% or higher than the permissible limit for faecal coliform, according to the test results tabled in the assembly.The permissible limit for faecal coliform is 100 or less MPN per 100ml. Faecal coliform MPN stands for most probable number. It is a statistical method used in water quality testing to estimate the concentration of viable micro organisms, such as E Coli, by observing fermentation in diluted samples, usually reported as MPN per 100ml.Other than a couple of months, all year round the faecal coliform level was found to be 100 to 200% higher, especially during 2024-25. The levels in July and Dec 2024, for instance, were 2,300MPN as against the prescribed 100MPN.“Although there is good oxygenation and stable pH, with low organic load in the Mandovi water samples, the exceeding levels of faecal coliform indicates the ongoing impact of untreated or partially treated waste water discharges into the Mandovi,” state the reports.The assembly reply by chief minister Pramod Sawant states that the Central Pollution Control Board had categorised a stretch of Mandovi as priority IV river for its pollution in 2022. But its level was categorised as improved subsequently and removed from classification as a polluted river in Sep 2025, based on the reports.This is because the river water samples were tested for 13 parameters, and copper, zinc, manganese, iron etc all levels were found to be within permissible limit in the water. But the faecal coliform level remained extremely high, even though it qualified based on other parameters to be removed as a polluted river.“All the casinos have an onboard sewage collection tank which are emptied in the presence of officials of GSPCB and captain of ports. The sewage transferred from the casino vessels is thereafter sent for treatment into PWD STP at Patto. A logbook record for transfer of sewage is maintained by the casino vessels, which is duly acknowledged by the officials,” said the reply tabled in the assembly by the CM.
