PANJIM: In a major U-turn, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on Friday gave the offshore casino vessels till March 31, 2016 or until an alternative site is finalized for the vessels, to move out of the River Mandovi. As per the earlier undertaking given by the casinos, Deltin Jaqk was to sail out of the River on Saturday. The casinos will have to move by the specified date or when the site is finalized, whichever is earlier.
The government has also received two representations recommending that the offshore vessels be not shifted out of river Mandovi, along with a memorandum signed by over 2500 casino employees against relocation.
Reiterating that the government will not allow new casinos, the cabinet on Friday also authenticated the report of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) that stated that the offshore casino vessels are not polluting the river.
Addressing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, ruling out the possibility of shifting the vessels to the deep sea, said, “State government has drafted a policy framework to shift the offshore casinos from River Mandovi as promised within the time (December 2015), however we have delayed on the issue.”
“Casino operators are ready to shift provided we make them available the required infrastructure. The four spots identified by Captain of Ports – Zuari, Aguada bay, Chapora and Sal – have no ready infrastructure at this stage,” Parsekar admitted.
Stating that the first casino would have to move out on Saturday, he said, “In such a situation, we had to come to some conclusion and hence the cabinet approved to grant them extension of seven months to relocate. The vessel license would be renewed up to March 31, 2016,” the Chief Minister said.
The government in 2013, with Manohar Parrikar as chief minister had resolved to shift the casino vessels out of River Mandovi by December 2015. The government had taken an undertaking from the casino operators to shift the vessels within two years of their licence being renewed.
Parsekar said that while the government is committed to shifting the casinos out of the river, it needs to keep in mind issues like investor confidence which is a pre-requisite for bringing in new investment. “We abide to take a decision which is pro-people and investment friendly. We are getting considerable revenue from the casino industry, we just cannot stop them. We cannot discourage investments in the State,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said they have received 15 objections to the four sites identified by the CoP and notified by the government for the casinos. Three objections are against shifting the vessels to Aguada Bay, seven objections against shifting to Chapora River, three objections in general (against casinos in Goa) and two recommending that the status quo be maintained and allow operations in Mandovi.
“We have also received a memorandum signed by over 2500 casino staffers, pleading that the casinos not be shifted,” he said.
