Goa Boats: Going, Going, Gone?

Sat, Jul 16, 2016

Five controversial casinos boats on India’s Mandovi River off Goa could finally have a new permanent home. A private investor reportedly has offered to establish a “special offshore casino zone” for the cruisers. Once an opponent of the boats, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar (l.) now says the state’s economy depends on them.

Strong local opposition to casino boats

The government of the Indian state of Goa has promised its constituents multiple times it would relocate four offshore casino vessels out of the River Mandovi. Instead, a fifth boat was recently added to the original four, to cries of outrage from local clergy, fishermen and others.

Now the waves of controversy may finally subside. According to CalvinAyre.com, Gayatriraje Chowgule told the Nahvind Times the government can move the boats to a stretch of land owned by the Chowgule Group along the Zuari River near Chicalim, near Dabolim International Airport. Chowgule said the family would not be “hosting the casinos, but only facilitating the government.”

The government first announced in 2015 that it would relocate the offshore casinos from the Mandovi, but could not find a suitable host. Lawmakers assured residents the vessels would move within a year, then BJP Goa Unit Chief Vinay Tendulkar said moving them could “damage investor’s confidence in the government.”

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who came to power in 2012 on the promise he would not grow the casino industry, agreed that it would be imprudent to “abruptly kick out investors who have invested in the state.” Then a fifth casino was added, adding to the protests.

Parsekar insists he is no fan of the casino cruises, but even now does not seem committed to their ouster. He was recently quoted as saying the state’s economy “is dependent on casinos. I have taken information about how many Goans are employed on casinos. The casinos create direct and indirect employment opportunities. But at the same time it should not be misunderstood that I am supporting to increase the number of casinos in the state.”

In a statement, Chowgule said, “I know I have walked into the lion’s mouth, but it is for the government to curb the ‘bad side.’ My proposal is only keeping in mind that the government has been in search of a site to relocate the casino vessels, and this site would not be proposed by the government.”

The Times reported that Chowgule has proposed a tourism project to add water sports activities at the site, as well as yacht berths and other amenities.

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