PANAJI
The Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet on Wednesday gave yet another extension of six months for the off-shore Casino vessels to be moored in the Mandovi river.
The cabinet had in September last granted the casino operators a six months deadline to vacate the navigation channel of Mandovi river.
The issue of removing the vessels has been intermittently making headlines for over a decade now.
At the 2019 bye-elections held after the death of Manohar Parrikar, Panaji MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate had promised to rid the river of to he Casinos in 100 days of getting elected.
However, with the pandemic hitting businesses, Monserrate has diluted his stand claiming that traders are in favour of the casinos staying put in the river.
Meanwhile, in other decisions, the State Cabinet granted approval to a proposal for erecting power transmission towers on government land which was erstwhile evacuee property in Mayem.
The towers are part of the 400 KV double circuit Xeldem-Mapusa Goa Tamnar Transmission Project.
Tamnar has sought all the necessary approvals from the North Goa Collector to start construction work at Mayem, including the felling of trees.
In yet another decision, the Sawant-led cabinet also extended the one-time settlement scheme for accumulated unpaid arrears of water bills up to February end. The cabinet also extended the 4 per cent reservation for children of freedom fighters for another two years.
