GOVT DECIDES TO MOVE SEVEN CASINOS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS

PANJIM: The government on the opening day of the budget session of the state legislative assembly announced its decision to move the seven offshore casinos outside the city limits of the river Mandovi, next month, if their owners fail to do so by March 31, 2011.

M V Pride of Goa, M V Arabian Sea King, M V Leela, M V Casino Royale, M V San Domino, M V Caravela, and M V Boa Sorte are the seven offshore casinos allowed to moor in River Mandovi. The two of these vessels – M V San Domino and M V Arabian Sea King -- are in dry dock for repairs.

Last year, the state cabinet had decided that three of the offshore casinos would be anchored on Ribandar side of river Mandovi, while four would be anchored towards Miramar side near Aguada Bay. "Three vessels will now have to be anchored towards the Ribandar village, just a kilometer away from Panjim, while four others would be located at either side of the riverbanks," the cabinet had decided.

Replying to a related question from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs during the Zero Hour, the Minister for Tourism and Ports, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar said the government had convened a meeting of the owners of the offshore casinos, wherein they were informed about the government decision to shift their vessels.

"The government also agreed with the observation of the offshore casino owners that it would not be feasible to shift the existing offshore casino vessels to Aguada Bay and beyond, and hence they needed to be replaced by new resilient vessels," Mr Halarnkar maintained, adding that the government had set a one-month deadline for the purpose, starting on March 1, 2011. "I will move out these vessels after March 31, if the casino owners fail to do so," he reiterated. The minister also informed that all the offshore casino vessels were allotted mooring positions in river Mandovi on temporary basis.

The leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar stated that as per the government information, the validity of the government NOCs for five of the seven offshore casinos has already expired.

The Aldona MLA, Mr Dayanand Narvekar mentioned that the sewage disposal system adopted by the offshore casinos anchored in river Mandovi is not only inadequate, but also responsible for polluting the river.

"A small vessel with a smaller tank of one cubic metre capacity arrives at some of the offshore casinos and collects sewage generated on them," Mr Narvekar pointed out, informing that much of this sewage is dumped in the river Mandovi. "This has severely contaminated the river, and the aquatic life has been gravely damaged in the process," he alleged, questioning as to why the government wants floating casinos, if it cannot control pollution caused by them.

Later, the state legislative assembly Speaker, Mr Pratapsingh Rane asked the environment department to probe the river Mandovi contamination issue.