OLD GOA, SEPT 20
Residents of Ribandar have strongly opposed the State government’s plans to permit three off-shore casinos at Ribandar.
At a meeting convened by United People of Ribandar on Monday,several local leaders feared that casinos entering Mandovi River at Ribandar would not only disturb the river navigation route, but would threaten the livelihood of local fishermen.
Speaking at the public meeting, Ribandar Church Parish Priest Fr Alcandro Rodrigues said the off-shore casinos are supposed to be miles away from the shore, but in the present case they are hardly a few hundred metres away.
“This decision of the State government to dock the casinos towards the Ribandar side is baffling, as it will not only create problems for the barges, ferry boats, cruises and canoes on the river navigation route, but will also create problems in the middle of the sea as mostly the river at Chorao side not being hollow,” said Fr Rodrigues.
“If casinos are located in the middle, it could create a problem like that at the Cumbarjua Canal, where barges tend to get grounded due to low tide,” added Fr Rodrigues.
“Casinos will destroy fishing nets, due to which livelihood of local fishermen is at risk, besides the river will be polluted,” claimed Fr Rodrigues.
Another resident from the area, Luis Frias said: “Even though a lot of our local youth are working on casinos in various capacities, we have to be united and try to stop State government’s move to allow casinos to come towards Ribandar side.”
“Today, they have sent three casinos next time it may be some more and finally the river might be full of casinos. We have to stop it now, as we have seen what has happened with one vessel on Candolim beach, where the River Princess had been lying for many years,” added Frias.
“If we don’t stop this casinos now, then Ribandar might see another River Princess type of disaster,” said Frias.
An artist from Ribandar, Prakash Naik, said: “I was shocked to learn about the State government’s decision to allow casinos to come towards Ribandar. I feel it is a big plot of the State government to make more space and bring more casinos in the Mandovi River.”
“Such casinos will not only spoil our Ribandar youth, but also ruin fishing business, as one day, a casino might turn out to be another River Princess vessel at Ribandar,” said Naik.
Corporator Vivinia Nasnodkar, Mandovi Fisheries President Domnic Fernandes, Mukesh Kavlekar and others were present at the meeting.
