Chief Minister for pushing casinos into sea

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-02-05
PANAJI - The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Wednesday told the assembly during the Question Hour that the state casino policy needs a thorough study and possible amendment to ensure that the off-shore casinos presently anchored in Mandovi river go to a distant place.
The Chief Minister informed that the government has received a number of complaints about the navigational congestion caused by the off-shore casinos in the river. The Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik informed the house, “We are also drafting a new Casino Act for the state.” He also assured the assembly that he would study the matter of licences being issued to off-shore casinos without obtaining clearance from DG shipping or the Captain of Ports and take a decision about terminating such licences, by the next assembly session.
Mr Ravi was responding to the allegations by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar that some of the applicants for the off-shore casinos were being issued licences by the government without they possessing clearances from either DG Shipping or the Captain of Ports, as also in the absence of the vessel.
The Home Minister further maintained that altogether seven off-shore casinos including Caravela, which received licence way back in the year 1999, have been issued licences by the government.
Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition attacking the Home Minister tooth and nail said that the government has issued licence to M/s V M Salgaokar and Brothers Pvt Ltd for running an off-shore casino without possession of a licence from DG Shipping and NoC from the Captain of Ports while M/s Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment Pvt Ltd has been issued licence to operate its Casino Royale off-shore casino, which actually is a cruise ship flying the flag of a nation namely Comoros Islands. “The central government, through its policy to promote cruise shipping in India had decided to allow foreign flag vessels carrying passengers to call at more than one Indian port without obtaining a licence from the DG Shipping under Section 407 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958,” the Leader of the Opposition observed pointing out that the Casino Royale, a cruise ship, is being used as a off-shore casino by taking advantage of this very policy, which permits it not to have a licence from DG Shipping. “The cruise ship cannot maroon itself in Mandovi waters permanently as it is against the very concept of the cruise shipping promotion policy,” he maintained.
“In the rules and regulations of the land, the term ‘vessel’ has been clearly defined as a ship or a boat used in navigation and licenced by the DG,” Mr Parrikar said, adding, “How can the home department issue off-shore casino licence to the applicants when they have no vessel in their possession.”
Speaking further, Mr Parrikar claimed that all the off-shore casinos anchored along the capital city have no sewage/ sewerage treatment facility and the garbage generated in these vessels - each vessel carrying 1,000 people per night – being directly discharged in the Mandovi waters. “These people also defecate in the river waters polluting the same,” he alleged.
“Furthermore, the Dayanand Bandodkar Road, which is a no-parking zone during night time, gets crowded with parked cars which bring the visitors to the off-shore casinos,” the Leader of the Opposition noted, threatening to take on to the street if a solution is not found to this problem.
The Aldona MLA, Mr Dayanand Narvekar, speaking on the occasion brought to the notice of the House that the Betim side roads are also congested with parking of similar vehicles. “Interestingly, one of the off-shore casinos has no engine and yet has managed to obtain licence from the authorities,” he stated.
Another answer to the House informed that the department of tourism, Goa/ Ministry of Tourism, India have issued five-star certification to the Vainguinim Valley Resorts, Hotel Majestic, Hotel La Calypso and Hotel Riviera de Goa so as to allow them procure licence from the home department for setting up electronic amusement/ slot machines.