CRIMINAL ECONOMY - Goa depends on Casinos?

State depends on casinos: CM July 6, 2013 TEAM HERALD teamherald@herald-goa.com PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said he would not be able to run the State ~ financially ~ if he stops casinos overnight, even though in his personal view the “State does not need casinos”. “I depend on casinos (revenue) to the tune of Rs 150 crore which I get to run the finances of the State,” Parrikar told the annual general body meeting of Goa State Industries Association (GSIA). “If I close them (casinos) overnight who will replace Rs 150 crore?” he questioned. Parrikar has been facing criticism from the Opposition Congress and the anti-casino protestors for not being able to shut the off-shore casino vessels dotting River Mandovi. The chief minister, when he was Leader of Opposition, had opposed the off-shore casinos stating that casino business is destroying Goan culture. Soon after coming to power, he had also assured to remove all the casinos from the river before the end of his tenure. Chief Minister also announced plans to increase the FAR for industries and hotels from existing 1 to 1.5 and said that government would be creating a proper land bank for bringing in more number of precise industries. Chief Minister assured to have a single window system in place at Goa Industrial Development Corporation, reducing all the hurdles in seeking necessary permissions. He also said IDC will be given the task of providing power supply to the industrial estates by sourcing electricity from the feeder. Government intends to start this new mode of transmission to the industrial estate six months from now. Parrikar said that the Verna industrial estate would be the first one to take up such a project. Also present were Industries Minister Mahadev Naik and GSIA President Shekhar Sardessai. Referring to the recent allegation against his son by the Congress, Parrikar said, “If anyone can prove the misuse of government machinery by me or my son, I will resign on the spot”. Chief Minister Friday also indirectly warned the Right to Information activists of referring their cases to Income Tax department if it is found that they are spending lakhs of rupees to procure information under the Act. He said that the RTI Act is being misused by people for the purpose of blackmailing or with an aim of minting money. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/State-depends-on-casinos-CM/76567.html