No Alternate Location for Goa`s Offshore Casinos Yet, Says CM

Laxmikant Parsekar
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  • PG News March 5, 2016
  • 2 Minutes Read

In a fresh development, Goa`s Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar (cover image) stated that no alternative location had been found for the relocation of offshore casinos. According to an article in IndianExpress.com, Parsekar admitted “As of now we have not been able to scout for a suitable location. We are yet to receive any kind of communication from the Casino operators, only after which the decision can be taken”.

The statement has stirred up a hornet’s nest among the opposing parties, namely the NGO’s and locals who have been clamouring for the casinos to be moved out of the River Mandovi. The BJP government had promised removal of these four casinos, the Casino Pride, Casino Deltin Royale, Casino Pride 2 and Deltin JAQK in their 2012 election manifesto, but last year extended the deadline for the shifting from December 31 to March 31, 2016.

This deadline is drawing near and yet no further progress has led to activists accusing the government of doublespeak. Sabina Martin of Aam Auraat Aaadmi Against Gambling (AAAAG) claimed that, “The government claims that Casino are needed to generate local employment and it adds as a tourist attraction, but the tall claims are nothing but farce. On the contrary their entry has increased the rate of crime, drunken rage and rise of escort services in the area. But the government seems to be indifferent to the local issues and bothered only about minting money.”

On its part the BJP government has already begun processing a draft amendment bill in the Goa Public Gaming Act, 1976 that makes it illegal for any Goan native or anyone under the age of 21 to frequent casinos. However, even this move has Martin protesting that “Firstly its discriminatory, secondly anyone can challenge such laws in higher courts and it can be declared unconstitutional and therefore has no logic in pursuing it whatsoever.”

Statistics report that Goa has been in the midst of an economical downturn, due to its near-dead mining industry and any slowdown in the tourism and tax revenues generated from casinos will severely affect its coffers. The casino industry nets Goa more than INR 100 crores in tax per annum alone. This fact will play a big role in determining the shifting of the casinos. A representative from the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) remarked that, “Its substantial earning for state revenue, it may not be an easy decision to send them out. Its a major attraction for domestic tourist, especially during weekends.”

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