20 Feb 2017  |   07:56pm IST

If elected to power, no renewal of casino liquor licenses: Cong

Team Herald

PANJIM: 

After promising to shift the off-shore casinos out of Goan voters in their election manifesto, the Congress party has now assured not to renew their liquor license after March 31 post formation of next State government by them.

 “Once we form the government after March 11, we will not renew the liquor license of the off-shore casinos after March 31. The liquor business by them is illegal,” AICC secretary Girish Chodankar told media persons responding to a question on whether off-shore casinos should also come within the ambit of Supreme Court verdict banning sale of liquor within 500 meters of highways.

“But while taking that decision, we will have to take all precautions to ensure that there is no scope left for casino operators to challenge the same before the Court,” Chodankar said.

As reported by HERALD, the Excise department mapping the liquor outlets including bar and restaurants within 500 meters of national and state highways, have prima facie observed that off-shore casinos operational in river Mandovi does not fall within that ambit and are located around 800 meters from highway.

Chodankar said that the Congress party has promised in its election manifesto to remove all off shore casinos out of Goa and as first step towards it, we will not renew their liquor license after March 31.

Interestingly, the three month extension granted to off-shore casino vessels to relocate from Mandovi river also ends on March 31, with Government yet to identify any site for their relocation.

River Mandovi is a home for four off-shore casino vessels.