Team Herald
PANJIM: An issue on the agenda of the first cabinet meeting of the new State government will be the fate of offshore casinos, whose licences come up for renewal after March 31, 2017.
The government that should be formed in the coming week will also have to decide on allowing the casinos to continue at anchor in River Mandovi, relocate them to an alternative location or not renew their licences. Interestingly, even after BJP-led government had last year announced extending the licences of the offshore casinos by one year till March 31 it had not been able to make arrangements for their shifting.
“As per the cabinet decision, all vessels will have to be moved out of River Mandovi after March 31, 2017 but no non-controversial place has been found. The first cabinet meeting of the new government will discuss the fate of the offshore casinos,” an official told Herald.
The government had promised to shift the casinos from the congested River Mandovi by March 31, 2016. The alternative sites chosen – Aguada Bay, and Rivers Chapora, Sal and Zuari – saw stiff opposition from the locals forcing the plan to be delayed.
The new government will now have the major task of deciding whether or not the operational licences of these vessels should be renewed. Secretariat sources said that as per the policy decision, all casinos have to be relocated after March 31, 2017.
The casino operators have submitted to the government that they have no objection to shifting their vessels provided all infrastructure and other required facilities are provided.
