The extent to which the government can try and mislead the people of Goa in an irresponsible and cavalier manner, was evident when it decided to seek suggestions for venues to shift casinos out of the River Mandovi.
The move is only a thinly veiled – but disgusting nevertheless – mask to avoid moving the first casino whose licence expires on August 29 to one of the new venues outside the Panjim port, or closing down operations of the casino. The three casinos will similarly shut down if an alternate spot and jetty is not established for them. But that’s a very big “if”.
After specifying this, the government realises that it is in no position to shift the first casino. Meanwhile with the initial reports of the Captain of Ports stating the enormous difficulties in moving the casinos to the River Zuari or to Chapora (which has not been disclosed in the assembly), it is clear that the casino shifting exercise is a mere bogey, just as introducing a bill to ensure grants to English schools in the primary level is.
Can the government explain to us, what is the justification in asking for public suggestions a month after deciding to shift the casinos out, after conducting a feasibility study of alternate locations?
Environment Minister Alina Saldanha made this obvious when she said in the assembly “It is at the preliminary stage”. She also said in a written reply that no environment impact assessment has been carried out, which is mandatory before moving of the casino ships to a new location.
As this drama of getting public suggestions is being played out, the despicable manner in which the government has turned from calling casinos “social evils and dens of vice” to becoming merry travellers on the casino boat, is on full display.
Do remember that way back on October 2013, then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had finally assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that all the casinos would be removed out of the River Mandovi by September 2015.
It is no secret that the casino operators have funded political parties and the activity is one of the biggest revenue spinners for the government, which has failed to secure alternate forms of wholesome entertainment, or create alternate employment. The dependence on the casino economy is so acute that it is forced to turn back on its own promise and assurances, to ensure that no casino stops functioning for a single day. As licences for various offshore casinos expire this year, it is very likely that the government will renew their licences irrespective of whether they remain on the Mandovi or any other river.
This is too big a goose to be killed. The books will be kept aside, rules will be bent and promises in the Assembly will be not met to ensure that whatever happens, the golden goose sails.
Throughout our coastal villages, uprisings have begun. This is yet another reason for the people to rise up in protest for a series of anti- people decisions taken by the government, the most recent one being the in principle clearance to the Marina project on the Sancoale bay.
The villages around Cortalim and Sancoale have in this case faced the rough end of the Governments ambitious of choosing corporate wealth over people’s hopes. Tragically this has become this government’s anti-people template.
