The casino issue has been reverberating between residents of Verem and Panaji. On Wednesday, villagers of Verem assembled to protest against the probability of a casino taking position along that stretch of the Mandovi. Protesters threatened to take the law into their own hands if the casino is moved to the Verem side. Their fears emanate from the dredging activity that was undertaken, with officials remaining mum to their queries.
On Tuesday, Panjimites gathered at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall to oppose the entry of a massive 112-metre-long replacement vessel, with speakers fearing extensive damage to the ecosystem of the river. A few speakers went a step ahead and called for shutting down the casinos at Mandovi, arguing that they are getting a bad name for the State.
The Captain of Ports has been on record stating that the 112-metre vessel will be permitted only if all the statutory permissions are obtained, adding that the extension of the casino is within permitted levels. This throws up a paradox of sorts. If the 112-metre vessel is allowed, what stops the others from following suit? For casinos, it’s purely a business perspective. On the contrary, there won’t be any grounds because a precedent is being set. This will only be catastrophic for the ecosystem of Mandovi, which is already struggling with high levels of pollution.
The public resistance to the proposed expansion of a casino is aimed at protecting the fragile ecosystem, and it will be for the authorities to clarify a host of factors. Firstly, what are the mechanisms in place to ensure that the river does not become a dumping ground for these vessels? What are the checks and balances? And what are the monitoring mechanisms?
Successive studies have pointed to a high presence of microplastics in the river, with casinos being one of the major contributors. Past studies by the Goa State Pollution Control Board and the National Institute of Oceanography have consistently pointed to high levels of pathogenic, faecal coliform bacteria in the river, rendering it unsafe for recreational bathing and fishing. The water was found to be contaminated by the release of untreated sewage and solid waste dumping.
On the other side, casinos contribute significantly towards the State treasury in the form of licensing fees and taxes, totalling around Rs 250-300 crore per year. There are jobs at stake with several people eking out a living working on these vessels. There are allied businesses connected to the casino sector, such as taxis and hotels. And, casinos have become crowd-pullers for tourism in Goa. The question that arises is whether the State can afford to overlook ecology over economy. When it’s about “responsible tourism”, where does one draw the line?
The protests against casinos reflect a collective desire for participatory governance, where people demand transparency, accountability, and respect for their voices. In the realm of environmental sustainability and cultural integrity, casinos may appear a misfit, but there are factors that make it difficult to strike an acceptable balance. In view of this, the government must put a blanket freeze on the existing casinos, both in terms of size expansion or venue shift. Strategically moving the vessels away would help in bringing some symmetry to the legacy of the capital city. The voices are all about a desire to preserve River Mandovi’s ecological integrity and cultural soul.
