PORVORIM: The State government has granted extensions to offshore casino as many as eight times in the last five years while no alternative site to shift the vessels from River Mandovi has yet been identified.
In a written reply to a question tabled by Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government has decided to shift the vessels and that the formulation of a casino policy for the State is under consideration.
“Government has decided to remove casinos out of River Mandovi but till today no alternative feasible site had been finalised. The Rules to the Goa, Daman & Diu Public Gambling Act 1976 is under consideration and same will be notified once finalised,” the CM said.
There are six offshore casinos operational in River Mandovi. The government has extended their licence to operate in River Mandovi till September 30, 2019.
To another reply, the CM stated the timeline the Council of Ministers laid down during the last five years for shifting of casinos away from Mandovi river were eight times – August 30, 2015 to March 31, 2016, April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017, April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017, July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017, October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, April 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018, October1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019.
The BJP-led government has been facing severe criticism over its failure to shift the offshore casinos out of River Mandovi as promised by them in their 2012 election manifesto. While contesting the Panjim by-poll on a Congress ticket, Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate – now in the BJP – had promised to shift the vessels out of the river within 100 days of getting elected as MLA of the State capital.
Meanwhile, the controversial restaurant ‘Watermark’ was anchored in River Mandovi without any permission from the Port Administration. Sawant, to another question told the House that there was no permission for a restaurant but it was granted for a floating pontoon. He said that the company is required to obtain NOC from other concerned authorities as applicable.
