PANJIM: Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane created a stir when he said River Mandovi is not the only available site for casinos and they can be shifted elsewhere.
“Mandovi is not the only place for casinos. They can be moved out, at least one kilometre from the bank of the river. If they want to have five casinos there are plenty of rivers in Goa where they can be shifted,” Rane told the media on Saturday.
Rane said shifting casino vessels beyond 12 nautical miles is not feasible and this is not the case anywhere in the world. He said in Goa the vessels should be at least one kilometre from the shore.
Rane had issued the first casino licence when he was chief minister. The statement comes in the wake of a fifth casino vessel anchored in River Mandovi.
Former Member of Parliament Francisco Sardinha said the government shouldn’t have allowed offshore casinos, but should have given a licence to an onshore casino.
The BJP-led government in Goa is facing severe resistance from the opposition and people for a U-turn on the issue of offshore casinos. BJP has failed to deliver on the March 2012 election promise that offshore casinos would be moved out of River Mandovi.
