The issue of shifting of casinos into the waters of the Zuari River has become the talk of the town in all nooks and corners of Cortalim and Sancoale. People from Sancoale are frustrated because recently the villagers went through trauma after the state government announced its decision to set up a Marina Project at Sancoale Bay and before the frustration could subside, another proposal to shift the casinos was moved. “Such things have never happened in the past as the government in power always took people into confidence first and then made announcements but under the BJP government, decisions are announced first and after protests, the leaders talk about consulting people which upsets people,” said Cortalim resident Christopher Fernandes.
Although the Cortalim Panchayat body has officially adopted a resolution to oppose the shifting of Casinos into the Zuari river, the Sancoale Panchayat body is yet to adopt a similar resolution as the new Sarpanch, Ramakant Borkar is waiting for a Gram Sabha meeting to be held later this month. It is however, confirmed that the state government will not receive any support from the village of Sancoale regarding this decision. “We are waiting for the Gram Sabha to be held but it is confirmed that the whole village will raise their voice against the move of shifting casinos into our neighbourhood as we are already overburdened with the existing infrastructure. Once the casinos are shifted, hotels/restaurants will start mushrooming in the village which is a threat to the village identity,” said Bharat Sail, a resident of Sancoale. People in both these villages have one common fear. They feel that once the casinos move into their neighbourhood, there are high possibilities that local youth who are mostly engrossed in football and other sports will get attracted to them and the families would suffer. But the major issue of lack of infrastructure in both these villages is telling. A national highway exists, passing through one side of these villages but the majority of the roads are narrow.
Like in the past, even this time the villagers of Chicalim are supporting Cortalim and Sancoale in their stand against the casinos. Similarly, even people from Vasco (mostly the fishermen community) have assured to extend their full support against the shifting of these vessels. “We have always supported the people from neighbouring villages. Even we feel that the casinos should remain where they are and not be shifted,”
said Francisco Nunes, Chicalim Panch member
