Cong wants clear-cut policy on offshore casinos' relocation

The Congress today demanded that the BJP-led Goa government should come out with a clear-cut policy on the proposed relocation of off-shore casinos, which are currently anchored in Mandovi river here.
AICC secretary Girish Chodankar said the Congress is convinced that since the casino culture is destroying the "Goanness", it needs to be "weeded out".
Goa has six off-shore casinos, but the state government plans to shift them to land. The casino policy of the state is expected to be framed by December this year.
"The BJP-led government in Goa is fooling the people with the false promise of relocating the off-shore casinos. Even if they are moved out of water, they would be given a better place, mostly near the upcoming international airport at Mopa," he told reporters here.

The airport at Mopa village in North Goa is expected to be commissioned in the year 2020.
Chodankar said the state government should come out with a clear-cut policy on the relocation of the casinos by December this year.

"Since 2012, the BJP government, in the name of relocation, has granted eleven extensions to the casinos to operate in the river," he claimed.
The Congress leader alleged that the extensions granted to the casinos clearly indicate that State government is run by them (casino lobby).
"The Congress party is convinced that the casino culture is destroying the 'Goenkarponn' (Goanness), due to which it needs to be weeded out," Chodankar said.

He also demanded that the state government should first seek people's consent before shifting the casinos in any of the areas in the state.