PANJIM: Though casino operators are bonded in an agreement to shift out of River Mandovi as and when directed, the government does not want to ease them out as this would result in “loss of revenue and hurt investor confidence in the State”.
The State cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, on Monday granted offshore casinos a further six month extension to move out of River Mandovi. The Cabinet gave them till September 30, 2017 to look for another place for operations.
The cabinet has also decided to grant the sixth casino, Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd, sanction to operate their MV San Domino Casino on the Mandovi for the same period of six months April 1 to September 30, 2017. (See detailed report on PAGE 3)
The cabinet note, copy of which is in possession of Herald, is specific that that the cabinet does not want to enforce the existing undertaking given by all casino operators, to shift out of the Mandovi as and when directed, stating that this ‘abrupt enforcement’ would lead to a revenue loss and give no ‘legitimate time’ to the cabinet to take a ‘fair view’ on the offshore casino policy.
This is the exact extract of the portion where it’s clear that the undertaking to move as directed won’t be enforced, even as a fresh undertaking would be taken would be taken, when the latest six months extension will be notified
“It is noted that all the above casino licence holders have given an undertaking that they would shift outside River Mandovi as and when directed. The abrupt enforcement of the said undertaking would entail immediate loss of revenue,” the cabinet note says.
Explaining the delay in finding alternative sites, the cabinet note states that the elections and model code of conduct was the reason for not finding a suitable alternative site.
“The progress for hunt for alternate sites did not get sufficient momentum for various reasons. Further the forthcoming elections and thereafter model code of conduct further eclipsed this process,” the cabinet note approved by the Council of Ministers said.
That the government was non-committal on moving casinos out was clear four years ago when the cabinet meeting on August 19, 2013 stated, “While the government is committed to remove the offshore casinos from River Mandovi, it needs to keep in mind various issues including investor confidence which is pre-requisite for attracting investments into the State.”
After the 2013 cabinet meet, the issue was discussed twice by the cabinet on August 28, 2015 and March 31, 2016 to either extend the licence or give extension to stay in Mandovi river.
