Chicalim and surrounding villages have a problem on their hands. The Chowgule group, which owns sufficient land along the bank of the Zuari river, in February forwarded a proposal to the State government to relocate all five offshore casinos to an area in the
river off Chicalim. The proposal stated that the area was large enough to anchor up to 12 casinos and since the jetty would be constructed on land owned by them, there should not be any objection.
On paper, this seemed like a sound solution to the offshore casino problem. The reality is of course quite different because casinos are not just ships anchored in the water. They bring a large ecosystem which impacts the area. Casinos might be good for business and creation of jobs, but let us not forget that gambling is a vice and a lot of other vices get attached to
this form of entertainment. The moot question for residents of
Chicalim and surrounding areas is, do you want such kind of
development?
Minister for Science and Technology
Alina Saldanha has spoken out
against shifting the casinos to the
Zuari. Alina was vociferous in opposing
a plan to build marinas at
Nauxi and Sancoale. It cost her, her
job as forest and environment minister,
but this downgrade has not
dimmed her commitment to keeping
the Zuari free of encroachments. She is the only minister to
oppose the plan to shift offshore casinos to the Zuari, a stand
that is likely to find resonance with the people.
The Chicalim Villagers Action Committee, which successfully
opposed a plan to construct a shipyard as the same location
11 years ago, has expressed its opposition to the proposal and
a meeting is planned on Sunday to formalize its plan of action.
Offshore casinos have been in the limelight for all the wrong
reasons. Although they provide direct jobs to a large number of
youth and indirect employment to taxi owners and city hotels,
the presence of the casinos off Chicalim will change the complexion
of the village and surrounding areas in the long run.
For starters, vehicular traffic on this route will increase. Disturbances
during the night will become commonplace. If there is
not enough space for parking, vehicles will be left stationary
along the road. Traffic congestion is a possibility which people
in the area must consider before lending their support. Also,
growth in number of casinos will induce similar growth on the
land. Smaller hotels will mushroom to take care of accommodation
of casino staff. Illegal constructions will proliferate for
the same reason. And Chicalim will never be the same again.
Since development in Goa is always unplanned, residents of
Chicalim will have to carefully consider the pros and cons.
On the other hand, casinos cannot be wished away. A lot of
investment has been made by businessmen and a lot of jobs
are at stake. But overt support, as is being provided by the
government, is not a solution either. Since casinos are already
viewed as a problem, transferring this problem to the Zuari
does not solve the issue. Ideally, the government should work
towards gradually reducing the number of offshore casinos
and rewrite its tourism policy. The focus must move away from
gambling, alcohol, drugs and prostitution and family tourism
must be put at the centre of the plan.
