Team Herald
PANJIM: While Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar played safe on relocation of offshore casino vessels from River Mandovi, Ports Minister Dilip Parulekar said his department is awaiting an order from the Home Department to shift the vessels. The minister expressed the possibility of shifting the vessels to Aguada Bay.
“My department (Captain of Ports) has already identified areas for relocating the casino vessels. Now it is for the Home Department to issue orders to CoP to shift the vessels,” Parulekar told Herald.
“We give licence to the vessel and not for casino operation. The first license is expiring on August 29 and it is for the Home Department to decide whether the casino vessel would remain as vessel or its licence would be renewed,” the minister said. He added, “The infrastructure at Aguada Bay is ready, vessels can be very well shifted there.”
As per the undertaking given to the government Deltin Jaqk, whose licence expires on August 29, has to be relocated out of River Mandovi.
Parsekar, refusing to speak in detail on the issue said, “Government is trying to take an appropriate decision.”
He said that as announced by his predecessor (Manohar Parrikar), he is implementing the decision of relocating the casino vessels. “Accordingly we had identified three areas – Aguada Bay, River Sal and River Chapora. We have notified the areas and have sought public views,” he said.
Asked about the deadline for setting up of a gaming commission to regulate the casino industry, the chief minister remained silent.
The government is facing severe opposition from all corners on shifting of the casino vessels in their jurisdiction.
