PANJIM: The Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) has decided to not renew casino trade licences, which will deter them from operating their offices in its jurisdiction in the capital city. An official decision in this regard will be taken during the CCP Council meeting, scheduled this month.
Mayor Uday Madkaikar said this is the first step towards the promise of shifting casinos outside River Mandovi and resolving congestion from the city roads. “Their trade licences and permission for signboards in the city will not be renewed, when it comes up for renewal before us next year. In the coming days, a council meeting is scheduled wherein this issue will be taken up on the agenda,” he informed Herald.
The Atanasio Monserrate-backed panel is currently on the ruling side of the CCP. Monserrate, in his election manifesto for the Panjim by-poll, had assured Goans to shift the off-shore casino vessels from River Mandovi within 100 days of taking over as the MLA.
The legislator, now in BJP, has also backed the CCP to clear the parking woes in the city while directing the Traffic Department to clamp down on illegal parking, an offence which is majorly committed by casino vehicles.
In June, the CCP had directed prohibiting parking of vehicles of the off-shore casinos in the city asking the concerned operators to use the multi-storey pay parking facility of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by CCP Commissioner Ajit Roy and attended by Madkaikar, Traffic PI and other traffic officials, and representatives of the offshore casino vessels.
The enforcement had to begin from July 1 failing which casino operators were warned of penalty. However, the violation by the casino operators continues.
