MARGAO
Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has demanded to know why is the government hell-bent on expanding casino operations even to other pristine places of the State through its Goa Investment Promotion Board.
He demanded to know when will the state government listen to the voice of the Goans who have in one voice vociferously opposed to all such projects in the name of so-called haphazard development.
“In the past few years, Goans have untidily opposed numerous unfriendly projects including IIT at Melauli, Marina at Nauxim and the three linear projects, besides four-laning of National Highway NH 4A. Incidentally, in the face of still opposition from locals to the projects of IIT at Melauli and Marina at Nauxim our government has shown its sagacity in scrapping these unfriendly plans,” he said.
Concerning the three linear projects, Reginaldo reminded the Central Government and the State Government that on April 24, 2021, the Report of the Supreme Court’s appointed Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) has already raised the red flag because it will “destroy the fragile eco-system of the Western Ghats which is an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot and also one of the most important wildlife corridors of the country”.
Requesting the State government to scrap the Entertainment City project housing casino; club etc too, he said: “Let us preserve the rich heritage and culture of Goa. Development of Goa must be decided by niz Goemkars. Casinos in no way can ever become part of Goa’s rich cultural milieu”.
