Team Herald
PANJIM: The Calangute and Saligao constituents have joined hands to oppose BJP-led government’s move to relocate off shore casinos, currently anchored in River Mandovi, to Aguada bay.
Calangute Constituency Forum, Candolim Citizens Forum and Pilerne Citizens Forum on Thursday jointly addressed media in Panjim raising their strong opposition to shifting of offshore casinos in their constituency. Warning Port Minister Michael Lobo against shifting even one offshore casino to Aguada, the locals have threatened to go to any extent to stop relocation of casinos in their constituency.
The opposition comes at the backdrop of Lobo directing Captain of Ports to identify suitable location at Aguada bay to relocate the offshore casinos that are granted six months’ extension till March 2020, to operate in River Mandovi.
Speaking to media, Calangute Constituency Forum president Premanand Divkar questioned as to why did the BJP government not conduct any feasibility study before granting permissions to four new casinos in River Mandovi? “We agree that casinos were introduced by Congress. But BJP helped them to flourish by increasing offshore casinos’ number from three to seven,” he charged.
Claiming that casinos are like ‘cancer’, Divkar said this cancer has reached even to the remotest areas, where locals are getting affected.
He said the coastal belt of Calangute-Candolim-Sinquerim is already known for illicit activities such as drugs and prostitution. “With casinos coming up here, the situation will be worsened,” he lamented.
Divkar questioned government where has the revenue generated from casinos in the last ten years gone, till date it has not managed to stabilise the State’s economy.
Pilerne Citizens Forum president Prakash Bandodkar requested Lobo not to fool the people. He demanded to know as to whom the casinos, once shifted to Aguada, would benefit. “Will it benefit the locals or local body representatives or MLA?” he asked adding “Or is it to further boost business of Lamanis?”
He said there are many fishermen dependent on fishing for their livelihood and with casinos coming in, it will add to river pollution. “Fish catch will be adversely affected,” Bandodkar added.
