Never said will close off-shore casinos: CM (Herald)

Never said will close off-shore casinos: CM October 11, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday categorically told the House that the state government will not close down the off-shore casinos in the state but would move them out of river Mandovi by August 2015. “I never said that I am going to close the off-shore casinos. I will just move them out of Mandovi,” Parrikar said. The Chief Minister said that within two years, all the off-shore casinos would be moved out from the river in a phased manner. Parrikar said that those casino vessels, whose licences would be expiring on or before March 31, 2014, may be considered for extension for a period of two years to enable them to make alternate arrangements to move out of the river. “By August 2015, all the vessels would be moved out of the river,” he said. The issue was raised on the floor of the House by Congress legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lorenco and Independent MLAs Vijay Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte. Reginaldo questioned the government over the renewal of licence to off-shore casino vessel, M V Horseshoe, which was later named as “Delta In.” Government was also seen on the back foot over the issue of non-availability of details about the passenger capacity of each casino vessel in the river. Even BJP legislator Vishnu Wagh raised questions as to how a small vessel was allowed to be replaced with a big vessel (M V Horseshoe), with almost double the passenger capacity. The CM said that government is in the process of formulating a policy, where the casino licence fee would be fixed based on the size of the vessel and number of gaming tables. He said that all vessels are currently charged Rs 6.50 crore as licence fees irrespective of their size. The final draft of the policy is almost ready and it would be out shortly, Chief Minister clarified and added that as per the provision of Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, the licence is not granted as per the size of the vessel but is granted to the company, which owns the vessel registered with Captain of Ports (CoP) and Directorate of Shipping. Government was also seen on the back foot over the issue of non-availability of details about the passenger capacity of each casino vessel in the river. Even BJP legislator Vishnu Wagh raised questions as to how a small vessel was allowed to be replaced with a big vessel (M V Horseshoe), with almost double the passenger capacity http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Never-said-will-close-off-shore-casinos-CM/80515.html