Offshore Goa casinos asked to shift further down in sea

Goa today asked the casino vessels operating off the Mandovi river shores in the state to shift further down in the Arabian sea.

The state government in a cabinet resolution gave 15 days deadline to all the off-shore casinos to shift towards the sea. “The vessels should move out from the city limits within 15 days,” Chief Minister Digamber Kamat told reporters here.

The off-shore casinos queued in the Mandovi river running along the Panaji city had become an eye sore. Goa’s main Opposition party BJP had warned of severe agitation, if these vessels were not moved further towards sea.

 

“They will not be allowed to anchor in River Mandovi. They can come on the shore for refuelling and go,” Kamat said. Replying to a question, Kamat said that the people's opposition to off-shore casinos are only because they are prominently visible along the city.

He said off-shore casinos serve as a revenue earner for the state government. “We charge them Rs 5 crore as licencing fee. They also pay various other taxes,” Kamat said.