PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (GPYCC) has sought Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s intervention to ensure that off-shore casinos are not allowed to re-open in the State as the move will be an invitation for COVID-19 epidemic, with further influx of tourists, along with pollution of River Mandovi and other related issued.
In a memorandum forwarded to various government agencies, the GYPCC has also said that the off-shore casinos should not be allowed to resume its operations till any sustainable solution is found on the ongoing Mhadei River crisis.
The State Cabinet has decided to allow casinos to reopen from November 1. Goa has around six off-shore casinos in River Mandovi while over dozen of land casinos.
“The Youth Congress has no issue in reopening of casinos in the State but we have genuine concern about the aftermath effects. Restarting casinos in the Mandovi River in this pandemic period will again create a number of problems for the common Goan people right from increase in number of cases to pollution of River Mandovi, traffic congestion, etc,” the memorandum stated.
