NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Stating that the owner of Deltin Caravela, anchored on River Mandovi, along the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Chorao has completed all administrative formalities and, therefore, the concerned department has given permission to this casino vessel to anchor at the particular spot, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday said that the government, however, has directed the Captain of Ports to identify some locations to shift the offshore casinos anchored on River Mandovi.
“Nevertheless, the removal of offshore casinos from their present position needs to be done by following certain administrative procedures,” he added.
Speaking to a group of pressmen, the Chief Minister further said that the government has recently enhanced the entry fee for casinos from Rs 700 per person to Rs 1,000 per person under the Goa Entertainment Tax Act, with an aim to discourage locals from visiting them. “This increase in the tariff has also resulted in bringing down the 17-18 land-based casinos existing in Goa to a single digit,” he noted, pointing out that owners of some of the land-based casinos have not renewed the licences of their casinos.
It may be recalled that some legislators, social activists as well as a group of locals residing around the location where Deltin Caravela is anchored, had recently given a 15-day ultimatum to the government to shift the particular casino vessel from its present position, failing which they would launch an aggressive agitation.
Stating that he has taken all care to ensure no new addition to the existing fleet of offshore casinos, Parsekar, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that he would not like to increase the number of casinos in the state. “Deltin Caravela is not a new casino and has come up by way of renewal of an old licence,” he said, stating that the government just cannot unilaterally object o such renewal, lest it would send a wrong message to the future investors in Goa.
Maintaining that he is well aware about the rising demand for removal of Deltin Caravela from its present location, the Chief Minister said that this is an election year and some people by making issue out of offshore casinos, are instigating the public against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Replying to a question, Parsekar said that the file as regards appointing a regulatory commission to control the casinos in the state is already moving in the right direction. “The state Gaming Commission would be in place within the next 15 days,” he said. “The government is not sleeping, and it has to fulfil the commitments of the previous government as regards the offshore casinos,” the Chief Minister quipped.
