Team Herald
PORVORIM: The Goa government, on Friday, stood exposed when Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte told the Goa Legislative Assembly that 31 staff from an offshore casino were shifted to a residential building at Salvador do Mundo and the building was declared as micro-containment zone (MCZ) while the offshore casino vessel has been spared.
In a Calling Attention moved by Khaunte on COVID-19 in Goa, he sought an assurance from the Chief Minister that the offshore casinos would be shut down as they are becoming spreaders of the virus.
“What was the need to shift COVID-19 positive offshore casino staff members to the building and declaring it as MCZ when this situation could have been avoided? Why the particular casino vessel is instead not declared as MCZ? The Collector’s order has created a chaos in my constituency,” he told the House exposing major administrative lacunas in COVID-19 management.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane assured the House that health authorities will direct the off-shore casino operator to conduct RT-PCR testing on its entire staff. The assurance did not convince Khaunte who demanded that government rectify the lacuna.
He later managed to get an assurance on the floor of the House to de-notify the building at Salvador-do-Mundo as MCZ. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said instructions will be issued to de-notify the building and shifting of COVID-19 positive patients to South Goa District Hospital, Margao.
He was however interrupted by Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who asked the CM to “learn the law” as any place declared as MCZ cannot be de-notified until it completes specified period.
Earlier, during the discussion, Khaunte pointed out that there were vested interests playing in ensuring that the offshore casino vessel was spared from being declared as a MCZ.
In his speech on the floor of the House, Khaunte alleged that the difference of opinions between Chief Minister and Health Minister were resulting in COVID-19 mismanagement forcing the State on the brink of facing the same fate that of last year.
Both CM and the HM refuted allegations differences between them stating all are working together in the interest of the State.
One of the six buildings of Madhuban Complex at Salvado Do Mundo was declared as MCZ by an order issued by North District Collector Ajit Roy on Thursday. On Friday morning, Khaunte along with the local Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch had inspected the area, before the commencement of the business of the House.
