BJP's new gamble, allows Casinos in Mandovi for 7 more months

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 28 August 2015 19:14 IST

Like casinos, Goa government also seems to be playing a roulette game on the issue of relocating the casino vessels from river Mandovi. The people are losing the game while the rulers are winning.

All the four ‘offshore’ casinos vessels would not be moved out of river Mandovi now till 31st March 2016 – further extension of 7 more months.

Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had assured the people of Goa that licence of a single ‘offshore’ casino vessel would not be renewed, unless they move out in the sea.

But his successor of the same BJP government, Laxmikant Parsekar, has decided otherwise.

On the eve of the expiry of the licence of the first casino vessel MV Delta Corp Ltd tomorrow, the cabinet today decided to extend the deadline of relocation.

Incidentally, the deadline of inviting suggestions or objections from the public to relocate casino vessels expired yesterday.

“We have received suggestions to relocate as well as objections to the four sites of relocation we have suggested”, Parsekar said at the cabinet briefing.

The government had suggested following sites for relocation:

1. Mouth of River Mandovi at Aguada Bay

2. East of Zuari bridge

3. West of Zuari bridge

4. River Chapora

People in Cortalim on the banks of Zuari river as well of Pernem and Siolim on the banks of Chapora river are already up in arms against the government proposal.

The agitation has obviously helped the casino operators to continue their vessels anchored in river Mandovi.

“We will continue them in Mandovi until alternate relocation site is finalised”, said Parsekar.

Licences of the rest of the three ‘offshore’ casino vessels would also expire in next four months, as follows:

MV Pride of Goa: 12th September 2015

MV Casino Royale: 23rd October 2015

MV Boa Sorte: 3rd December 2015

All these licences would be renewed, but no vessel in river Mandovi would be allowed after 31st March 2016, Parsekar now made a fresh announcement.

Shifting of casino vessels out of river Mandovi was one of the major election assurance of the BJP in 2012 Assembly election.

The fresh election would be held by March 2017.

Originally, during Congress regime, the casino vessels were issued licences with a condition to anchor one kilometre away from the shore, in the Arabian sea.

Since then, they are anchored in river Mandovi. 


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Previous Comments

These floating Casinos must be dumping a ton of sewage into the fragile river causing some serious pollution. Anyways, what does it matter to average goans who defecate out in the open and pollute the environment in any case!

The small river or the rivers around Goa cannot handle this mess. Surely it is a lucrative business for Parsekar and company.

- Rajeev Kamat, UAE | 28 th August 2015 20:48

 

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