Congress criticizes move to Goa government's decision on casino extensions

The Congress on Sunday criticised the Goa government's decision to grant another six-month extension to all off-shore casino vessels in the state to move out of the river Mandovi. There has been a demand from a section of people to shift casinos from the Mandovi river in Panaji, where they are currently anchored.

Goa Congress spokesman Sunil Kawthankar told reporters here that the resolution granting an extension to offshore casinos was passed by the government on Friday by circulating a note among state cabinet members, without holding any discussion on such a crucial issue. He said senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, who is currently the state chief minister, led protests against the casinos' vessels in 2012 ahead of the Assembly polls that year. "The BJP came to power in 2012 with an assurance that it will move out casinos from the Mandovi river," he said.

Kawthankar said the BJP was yet to set up a Gaming Commission and draft a casino policy, as announced earlier. He also accused the BJP-led state government of paralysing the mining and tourism industry, both key revenue earners for the coastal state. The Manohar Parrikar-led government earlier gave extension by six months to the vessel-mounted casinos on September 30, 2018, which was to expire on March 31 this year.

It had asked the offshore casino vessels to move out once they were provided with an alternate place to operate. The government last year indicated that it may create a special gaming zone for casinos near the proposed international airport at Mopa in North Goa.

(With inputs from agencies.)