SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst opposition from three councilors, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Wednesday resolved to renew the trade licences of the offices of all six offshore casinos, operating in River Mandovi. The corporation is expected to earn Rs 52 lakh revenue from the renewal, which was due in March.
Councilors, including former Mayor Surendra Furtado, Councilor Menino D’Cruz and Rupesh Halarankar raised strong objection to Mayor Uday Madkaikar and Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues’ decision to grant trade licence to off-shore casinos. The councilors pointed out that a casino operator had filed complaint against the Mayor and Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate of alleged assault and molestation.
The councilors stood by their view, even as the Council, with a majority, resolved to renew the licenses.
The Mayor justified the decision stating that government has already permitted casinos to resume operations from November 1 and CCP can get into legal hurdles if the trade licences are not renewed. He also said that several restaurant and hotel owners, taxi operators approached the corporation with a request to grant the licenses, so they can resume operations, which in turn will help these people to get business.
The Council, which met after almost eight months, also agreed in-principle to waive off payment of various taxes for commercial establishments, within its jurisdiction, for the period they remained shut, due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Mayor, however, insisted that the taxes be imposed so that the revenue comes in. “I have to shell out Rs 2.50 crore on salaries every month. From where will the money come? DMA has already said no funds from government till December end,” Madkaikar said.
After much debate, the council in-principle decided to waive off the amount for a period the establishments were closed. However, D’Cruz was of the view that the wavier be granted for the ongoing financial year 2020-21.
Madkaikar also informed the council that the Corporation will sign the Leave and Licence Agreement with the legal vendors of the municipal market, as listed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) from November 16. He also said that on Friday, November 13, the market ownership will be vested to the Corporation.
The council was informed by the Mayor about the plan to set up a food court, either at Patto Plaza or Miramar. He said that the proposal is under consideration. “All the food carts will be given a designated spot,” Madkaikar said, adding that the ‘gaddas’ at Miramar would be back by December, while the decision with regards to others would be taken at the next meeting.
The councilors were also appraised about Public Works Department (PWD) taking up hot mixing of city roads and also clearing of potholes, which will be completed by November end.
Further, in order to declare the city as “Garbage Free City”, the council resolved to issue spot fines to those littering in public or community places. A public notice in this regard will be issued shortly.
