After stating loudly, clearly and rather repeatedly that the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) would not renew the trade licences of the offices of the floating casino operators, Panjim Mayor Uday Madkaikar has now said that a decision has been taken in principle to renew the casino offices’ trade licences but that a final decision would be taken at the council meeting that is scheduled next week. That is hardly surprising, as there always existed a major question mark over the corporation making good on its oft-repeated statements of not renewing the trade licences of the casino offices that are located in the city and within the jurisdiction of the corporation.
The interesting bit is that a year ago, in October 2019, the council had resolved not to renew the trade licences of the offshore casino offices due to the parking issues created by the staff and clients of the casinos and the resultant traffic nuisance. The threat from the CCP, of not renewing the trade licences has been hanging for a while now. In July this year this threat had been made anew, with the Mayor keeping the renewal of the licences on hold and stating they will stand by the promise that the trade licences will not be renewed and even adding that, ‘My leader and Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate also shares the same stand’.
At that time, keeping these licences on hold had essentially made little difference, as due to the restrictions imposed due to the COVID pandemic, the casino operations had been shut since the middle of March. There always existed the possibility that once casino operations are permitted, the Corporation of the City of Panaji could change its position on the issue. This is apparently what has occurred with the in-principle decision to renew the trade licences coming soon after the government permitted casinos to resume operations. The big question is whether the council next week will ratify this in-principle decision or whether it will stand by the resolution of a year ago.
To get an advance view of what the corporation will possibly do, one has to read the arguments in favour of the in-principle decision. Here is what the Mayor said, explaining the decision. According to him, the CCP was approached by several restaurant and hotel owners, taxi operators, with requests to grant the trade licences to casino offices, so that the latter can resume operations, as the businesses of the former were affected with no night life in the State capital after 8pm. He added that the CCP sought a legal opinion and it was pointed out that the non-renewal of the trade licences of the offices could be challenged in court. The Mayor also assured the people of Panjim that there will be no problems, as the corporation will be imposing stringent conditions to ensure there is no parking and traffic nuisance in the city.
This all points to the possibility that when the council of the Corporation of the City of Panaji meets next week it will approve the in-principle decision that has already been taken. One can’t also ignore the financial position as the corporation will earn about Rs 52 lakh if it renews the office trade licences. Pertinently, the corporation was aware of all the above even when, a year ago, the council resolved not to renew the trade licences of the casino offices. So quite possibly it was merely posturing all along, but we still await the final decision of the council on the issue. Will it stand by its resolution? That will be answered in the coming week.
