THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Amidst a lot of drama on DB Bandodkar Marg on Friday afternoon, Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) workers, upon the instruction of mayor Uday Madkaikar, demolished the front steps and facade of the Big Daddy casino reception situated on the banks of the River Mandovi. The casino had been violating rules for a long time by encroaching upon the footpath in front of it.
The CCP workers faced both vocal and physical objection from employees of the casino who challenged how they could undertake the demolition with no permission, and no prior notice. However, the mayor pointed out to them that it was they who had not taken permission, and had encroached and inconvenienced the common man. Besides breaking the steps of the reception, CCP workers, alongside casino employees who did not want the electrical work of the temporary front to be damaged, ripped apart the huge front set-up which announced the casino name.
The mayor told the media that residents had been complaining to him every two to four days about the inconvenience they were facing. At night, residents said, that people from the casinos set up tables on the footpath, obstructing it completely. After numerous complaints of this sort, the mayor said he conducted an inspection of the area
himself.
“The casino has completely encroached upon the footpath and put up lights in the trees (along DB Bandodkar Marg) in front of it without permission. They owe the CCP Rs 8 lakhs towards sign board tax which they have still not paid. We’ve already sent them a demand notice,” said Madkaikar. “Besides, the footpath needs to be free for people to walk. They’ve not taken permission for anything. We’re going to send them a legal notice,” he said. When asked if the CCP was targetting just Big Daddy, and letting the other casinos off the hook, the mayor replied in the negative saying that it was nothing personal and that they would be inspecting the footpaths infront of all casinos.He and his team later inspected the facade of Casino Pride, but found that there were no violations.
The official spokesperson of Big Daddy casino, when asked for comment, refused to do so. The move comes in the very first week of new Panjim MLA Babush Monserrate taking charge. The ruling panel of the CCP owes allegiance to Monserrate who has promised residents of Panjim that he would take care of the casino problem and make sure they leave the River Mandovi for good.
Land casinos will create more jobs for Goans, says Babush
PANAJI: While strongly advocating shifting of offshore casinos on land newly elected MLA of Panaji Atanacio (Babush) Monserratte on Friday said that land casinos will create more job for Goans.
Babush on Friday along with CCP mayor Uday Madakaikar and other corporators inspected the site at a jetty where there is the entrance of Big Daddy casino.
In the morning CCP has removed some encroachment on the footpath by the casino operators.
Babush reiterated his promise which he made during his the election campaign that offshore casinos will be removed out of Mandovi river within 100 days.
Meanwhile, while babush and other corporators were inspecting the site some NGO members along with staff, security officers of a casino operator confronted with them.
They asked why a selective action has been taken without any notice on a particular casino alleging that the Goans employed in the Casino will have to lose their jobs if the same harassment continues.
The verbal spat continued for around 15 minutes after police intervened and the issue was solved.
After that while speaking with media Babush Monserrate said that the footpaths are CCP area and such type of encroachment will not be tolerated. Action will be taken on all encroachers.
Casinos have been told to keep 1-meter setback from the footpath.
