PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday assured the Goa Assembly that Goans will not be allowed into casinos and that a date for such a ban will be decided soon.
Sawant was talking on demands of the Home Department and said that he agrees with the sentiments expressed by legislators that no Goan should be allowed into the casinos.
"Casino is only for tourists. A date will be fixed for the ban after which Goans will not be allowed in casinos. I have to study the issue," said Sawant.
He also mentioned the fact that the casinos had become a tourist attraction and some tourists came to Goa only because of the casinos.
He said that there are 6 offshore casinos and 8 onshore casinos and a total of Rs 411 crores revenue has come from casinos in the year.
BJP MLA Atanasio Monserrate while stating that in Macau the locals are not allowed in the casinos claimed that 90 percent of Goans go to the casinos and if Goans are not allowed to go to the casinos, the casino business will automatically end.
The CM also assured that the gaming and entertainment zone will be finalized. He added that shifting of casino vessels from River Mandovi is under consideration of the government and the Captain of Ports has done a study in this regard.
Meanwhile, the CM informed that 564 Goans and 877 non-Goans are working on casinos.
The CM said that Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (GIPARD) has been revived and all government officers will be given training through GIPARD.
He said that those who are in service under the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation for more than two years will automatically be made permanent as per the rules.
The government also has plans to set up a 'twin tower' tourist attraction which will house administrative offices at Patto-Panaji and an international tender will be floated for the design of the same. He said that he has rejected a design prepared by a GSIDC consultant for the same. He also informed that expansion plan of the secretarial block has been finalized and the work order will be issued soon.
Accepting that maintenance of Goa Niwas is an issue, Sawant said a tender has been issued for identification of contractor. He said that the swimming pool at Goa Niwas cannot be repaired and will be converted into a garden.
While speaking on demands of the police department, the CM said that a survey has been ordered to find out friendliness environment of 28 police stations in the state. He said new vacancies of 1300 policemen will be filled to overcome the shortage of staff in the department with a one-time age relaxation from 24 to 28 years. The procedure for recruiting these posts will start within one month.
While stating that drugs trade will not be tolerated CM announced that the anti-narcotics department will be revamped with good officers.
Chief Minister also said that the government has plans to set up a petrol pump, laundry project in the Colvale jail open space premises so that jail becomes self-sustained.
He assured that a final lot of recruitment of freedom fighter's children in the government department will be done soon informing that 1723 freedom fighters are registered with the department.
He expressed his idea to set up a pilgrimage scheme for all religions through the tourism department.
He also suggested that the forensic department could tie-up with police forensic department stating that Verna police forensic lab will be upgraded.
While speaking on Fire and Emergency demands, CM said that fire service team will cut dangerous trees in the state once Deputy Collector gives the report and sanction funds to cut such trees.
