PANAJI: The State government has granted another extension of six months for casinos to remain in River Mandovi, with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar saying that the decision was taken in view of the fact that the casino relocation policy is yet to be finalised.
"As promised, before December we will be taking a final decision on casinos. The meetings (with stakeholders) will start sometime in the middle of October. In the meantime the period of lease allowing the casinos in the Mandovi was ending. We have given them six months extension only because that would be the time required to take a decision. One should not misunderstand this," Parrikar said.
Towards the end of March this year, the state cabinet had granted a three-month extension to the stay of casinos in the River Mandovi besides empowering the Chief Minister to extend this period by a further three months in case the process of shifting them out of the River Mandovi is not fulfilled.
That period is due to end on September 30.
"The main decision, which I have announced in the assembly, may take some time to implement, may be by the end of October or November. Till the relocation policy is finalised, you can't keep them (casinos) hanging. They can be there (in the Mandovi) until we announce the relocation plans.Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had, in the recently concluded Assembly session, announced that the the government was considering setting up exclusive gaming zones which could be used to bring the casinos on land.
