TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The MV Horseshoe is all set to begin operations after the Home Department cleared the file on Monday. The file is now with the “higher ups”, department sources said, refusing to come on record due to the sensitive nature of the case, given the opposition casinos in general have generated.
Earlier permissions had been received by Delta Corp from Captain of Ports (an inspection has been conducted; more are likely to be held, sources say), Goa State Pollution Control Board ~ for the vessel as well, as for the restaurant and even supposedly from DG shipping.
According to authorities, the file had been moved seeking a transfer of licence from its boat the Caravela.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had reportedly informed media that the casino licence was a transfer and that there was no new licence been given. However, he was not available for comment on Monday.
Delta Corp Ltd officials had told Herald a couple of days back that they had put in the file and they were expecting the licences this week.
However, today its top officials Narinder Punj, MD HCEPL (Highstreet Cruises & Entertainment Pvt Ltd) was not available for comment despite efforts made to telephonically contact him.
Delta Corp holds three of the five operational offshore casino licences in Goa and Horseshoe, that is supposed to replace the Caravela will double the number of gaming positions currently on Casino Royale ~ also Delta Corp owned.
The Horseshoe is supposed to have 1500 live gaming positions, restaurants and very high-end VVIP and VIP gaming areas.
Regarding casino licences, Parrikar said he would not renew the licence of the sixth
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offshore casino. “That licence has expired. Treat it as closed,” he said.
Horseshoe had obtained permission from CoP to enter the Mandovi and sailed in after Caravela moved out.
The chief minister has been saying for quite some time now that he was firm on his stand that no new licences will be issued by his government.
Recently on his social networking site, he had said that a vicious campaign was being run about a supposed change in stance by his government on casinos. “I would like to put it on record that my stand on casinos has not changed,” Parrikar had written.
