Chorao villagers want offshore casino removed

To submit a memo to local MLA Anant Shet, Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar and other concerned officials on the issue
Chorao villagers want  offshore casino removed
Published on
CHORAO: The Chorao gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved to submit a memorandum to the local MLA Anant Shet, Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar and other concerned officials demanding the immediate removal of an offshore casino vessel from the Mandovi River.
In a written complaint, Lisa Dias Noronha, a social worker, stated that the casino vessel parked near Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is polluting the eco-sensitive zone, destroying the eco-system and causing obstruction to traditional fishermen. 
The villagers criticised the local MLA and Zilla members for failing to attend the gram sabha despite a written request to discuss various issues such as offshore casino, water scarcity, electricity etc.
They further complained that the Chorao-Ribandar jetty is being used by the casino operator to ferry customers via feeder boats. 
If this casino is allowed, more casinos will come up near island, the villagers said and feared that the youth may be tempted to gamble.
Other issues such as illegal constructions in khazan land, non-availability of 108 ambulance, bad condition of police out post building etc. were also discussed. 
Esperance Rodriques, Lisa Dias Noronha, Shrikrishna Haldankar, Ashwin Chodankar, Sajjan Gaonkar and others participated in the discussions.
When the villagers questioned the panchayat’s failure to hold the gram sabha for the last six months, acting sarpanch Vassudev Dhuri failed to provide a satisfactory reason regarding the same.
Herald Goa
www.heraldgoa.in