Questions how sixth casino will moor in River Mandovi when cap is for five only
the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa Congress lost no opportunity of accusing Parrikar and the State government of going against their own decisions and allowing the sixth casino to enter the Ri
ver Mandovi besides also questioning why the Goa Forward as well as independent MLA Rohan Khaunte have remained mute while permissions have been granted.
In a series of tweets, AICC secretary Girish Chodankar said that the verdict was against casinos but that the number of casinos was only increasing.
“Otherwise vocal when in opposition against casinos, [Parrikar] silently renewed the licence in 2013 for five years. Parrikar did not let anyone including the media know that he renewed it till 2018.”
He said that Goa Forward has three ministers in the cabinet. “Why hasn’t anyone objected despite casino culture destroying Goemkarponn? This proves the role of casinos in government formation,” Chodankar said on Twitter.
“In 2014 in the (legislative) assembly Parrikar declared: No more than five off shore casinos. Also had a cabinet resolution dated 13/02/06 to restrict offshore casinos to five and not to renew the licence if casinos don’t move from the River Mandovi,” Chodankar claimed.
Back in March 2015, Independent legislator representing Porvorim Rohan Khaunte while speaking in the assembly said that the government had cancelled the licence given to MV Caravela and later issued a corrigendum transferring the same licence to MV Royale Flotel. He tabled a reply he received under the Right to Information Act with a copy of the corrigendum which he tabled in the house.
The government had then in a reply to a question during Question Hour said that no licence, government notings or corrigendum was issued to MV Royale Flotel.
Parsekar first said no permission was given to operate a casino and permissions if any were only given for mooring by the Captain of Ports Department and how it is the intention of the government not to encourage casinos and that the licences for casinos were not given by the BJP.
Khaunte then seized his chance and placed before the House how the Home Department issued a corrigendum for installation of games of amusement electronic machine to Caravela and replaced the words MV Caravela with MV Royale Flotel
“The name of the vessel MV Caravela in the above mentioned licence, be read a MV Royale Flotel issued by department of Home dated 8/7/2014,” Khaunte read out during Question Hour.
“Please clarify how was this permission given,” Khaunte said pointing out how “the government and the chief minister had specifically
replied that no permission was given.
The corrigendum issued to give a “backdoor entry” to a new casino in the State was done when Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister.”
Chodankar also questioned how six casinos will now berth in the Mandovi despite there being a cabinet resolution to the effect that the number of casinos in
the Mandovi will be capped at five.
Chodankar questioned how Rohan Khaunte was part of the resolution when he was so vocal in his objections.
