The state govt has not unsurprisingly renewed the licence of the 2,000 capacity offshore casino vessel MV Royale Flotel. The court permitted petitioners Enough Is Enough and others to amend their petition to challenge the licence renewal. It also directed that its interim stay on the entry of the new ship into the Mandovi river will continue until the next hearing. In May, the HC, noting that the vessel did not possess a certificate of survey, had directed that it not sail without obtaining all required certifications. It had further directed that even after obtaining the necessary certificates and meeting the requirements, the vessel would not be permitted to enter the river without prior permission. It does seem that it is only a matter of time before we see the contentious casino vessel operating in the Mandovi. The government is going all out to help the casino lobby brushing aside objections by civil society, activists, environmentalists and those who have the benefit of Goa at heart.
VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
