TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Charging the BJP-led government of adopting double standards on offshore casinos, Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday blew the lid, revealing that the Captain of Ports (CoP) had, in 2013, granted No Objection Certificate to M V Royale Floatel to moor in the River Mandovi.
The NOC expired in February 2014, pending renewal.
Addressing a press conference, Khaunte produced the document renewing the NOC for mooring position in River Mandovi to M V Royale Floatel by CoP. The order is signed by Captain James Braganza.
“With reference to your letter No HCEPL/ROYALE FLOTEL/2013-14, on the renewal of NOC, this is to inform you that the validity of this office NOC for Highstreet/mooring/Royale Floatel/ dated February 12, 2013, is hereby extended for a further period of one year that is up to February 12, 2014,” the order reads.
Khaunte said that government in 2013, granted permission to Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment Pvt Ltd to moor their vessel Royale Floatel in the River Mandovi, off Britona. The same was renewed till February 2014.
Khaunte demanded that the government make its stand clear on whether it intends to promote the new floatel, housing casino, in River Mandovi. “The latest statement of chief minister and the news about new floatel makes it clear that the government is likely to further promote casino culture in the State,” he alleged.
The Porvorim legislator said that since the beginning he has been demanding from the government to rid the State of casino culture by banning new casinos and shifting existing ones out of Goa. “However, the government has been fooling the people by making fake promises and assurances,” he said.
Khaunte also demanded that unless a proper private forest management policy is put in place, government should not go ahead with further classification or verification of the private forest in the State.
Threatens to withdraw support
PANJIM: Independent Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday threatened to withdraw support to the Laxmikant Parsekar-led BJP government, for its failure to fulfill assurances and promises made in the election manifesto, especially for its backtracking on shifting offshore casino vessels out of the River Mandovi.
“I had extended support to the then Manohar Parrikar government who promised ‘parivartan’ (change). I supported the government in every decision. But now what is happening is completely unexpected. Government is making U-turns on its own promises and assurances,” Khaunte told media persons Wednesday evening.
