Team Herald
PANJIM: Is the government really serious about moving out offshore casinos from River Mandovi? Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday announced that the casinos have been given an extension to operate till March 2027, calling it a “last extension”.
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The regulation six-month extension has now been stretched to over two years. Over the past 13 years or so, the government has given at least 23 extensions to the casinos. Goa has five off-shore casinos in River Mandovi and almost a dozen in different five-star hotels.
Earlier the government had tentatively identified four sites for the purpose of relocating the offshore casinos but they were met with objections and found to be technically not feasible.
The four sites identified for relocation of the offshore casinos from River Mandovi were at the river mouth near Aguada jail, two locations in River Zuari and in River Chapora. The sites were identified by the Home Department and CoP.
The successive governments in Goa have been under pressure to relocate the casinos off the Goa coast, which is mandatory as per the licences granted to them. An off-shore casino must operate beyond a certain distance, about five nautical miles, from the seafront.
On several occasions, residents of the capital city have complained that the casinos cause traffic congestion on arterial Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, the road running parallel to the riverfront. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his predecessors have been facing criticism from the people as well as the Opposition for failing to shift the casinos from River Mandovi.
Political parties and non-government organisations have said that casinos have had a bad influence on youth as it drives them to addiction.
However, in 2016, the State Legislative Assembly via an amendment to the Goa Public Gambling Act had disallowed the entry of persons into casinos except for ‘tourists’ holding a valid ‘tourist permit’ issued by the Gaming Commissioner. Though it was challenged by a resident of the State, the amendment was upheld by the Bombay High Court at Goa upheld the ban.
