SWINDON council’s leader has hit back after the town was slammed as “highly polluted” by Goa’s top official.

Manohar Parrikar, Goa’s chief minister, made the claims in a debate at the Indian state’s assembly, Goan press reported.

In a discussion about coal handling at the state’s harbour, he hit back at suggestions that Goa was polluted.

According to reports, the chief minister told assembly members: “Lots of Goans stay in UK Swindon. It is a highly polluted town with high PM (particulate matter) [of] 2.5.”

David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, queried the chief minister’s slur.

“‘Highly polluted’ is not how I would describe our wonderful town and I’m sure the majority of the chief minister’s countrymen and women who have decided to make Swindon their new home would agree with me,” he said.

“I would be delighted to welcome Mr Parrikar to Swindon so he can see for himself why Swindon is such a popular destination for Goan expats.”

Previous estimates have put the number of Goans in Swindon at 10,000.

Earlier this year, the Advertiser reported that air pollution on one Old Town street had reached almost twice the legal limit.

Kit provided by charity Friends of the Earth and placed on Cricklade Street had picked up an average of 73.5 micrograms per cubic metre of nitrogen dioxide. The annual legal limit is an average of 40mcg/m3.

Responding to the findings, a council spokesman suggested that the figures should be treated with caution.

A spokesman said: “The short-term limit value for nitrogen dioxide, which represents concentrations on the pavement where people may be exposed for up to an hour, is in fact 200mcg/m3 and this needs to be exceeded 18 times a year before formally breaching EU limits.

"Weather, time of day and the seasons could also affect nitrogen dioxide levels.”