PANAJI
After much controversy, the State Government has finally decided to shift the floatel casino from Chorao to Panaji, close to the four existing off-shore casino vessels.
Speaking to The Goan, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, “I have told them to shift the floatel to a location between Betim and Panaji. The Captain of Ports (CoP) will have to see that it passes under the Mandovi bridge or may have to take the sea route. Additionally, the CoP has been directed to identify a mooring place for the vessel.”
Following protest against berthing of the casino vessel in Mandovi, even Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar had stated that casino will not be allowed in such close proximity to the sanctuary.
Parsekar, however, informed that the State Government is in the process of identifying locations for shifting of the casinos.
“We are in the process of identifying the necessary locations, once they are finalised they will be shifted”, he said.
The assurance came in after a delegation of residents of Ribandar including Aires Rodrigues and CCP Corporator Rupesh Halarnkar met the chief minister at his residence in Altinho. The residents called off the Ribandar Bandh scheduled on July 25 after the chief minister assured to shift the casino from its present location near Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao.
