PANJIM: After a major outcry regarding the encroachment of the footpath by Maharaja Casino, Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd – that has temporarily taken over the offshore casino in River Mandovi – is clearing the pavement. By Friday evening, a huge portion of the encroachments were dismantled under supervision of government officials.
Even as Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) sprung into action to remove the metal barricades along the pavement, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar instructed the authorities to ensure the footpath is cleared of the nuisance.
The CMO issued a statement later in the evening stating, “The encroachments on footpath by a casino operator are now being removed as per the directions of CM. CM had taken cognisance of the matter and had directed CoP to ensure the removal of the encroachments within 48 hours.”
CoP Deputy Director Octavio Rodrigues was among the officials the CM had directed to monitor the exercise by the casino management. “The encroachments are being removed and the debris will also be cleared soon,” he told Herald.
In just three months since it started operations, the casino, anchored at Captain of Ports (CoP) Panjim jetty and operated by Haryana politician Gopal Kanda-owned firm ran into controversy. Herald was the first to report about the illegality and the nuisance of the encroachment, and pointed at the spilling over of casino visitors on the footpath particularly in the evenings.
During GSIDC’s inspection earlier this month it was found that metal barricades put up along the road five years ago while constructing the CoP jetty were being used by Golden Globe to create a reception area for their offshore casino. The barricades had not been removed from the area, where a terminal building by CoP is coming up which will house related government offices including customs, coastal police, etc.
