Parsekar takes the heat
The Indian state of Goa has identified several potential new homes for a fleet of offshore casinos, which have been under pressure from locals and many officials to relocate. But the boat operators have rejected the plan to move out of the Mandovi River.
Earlier this year, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar gave the floating casinos until March 2017 to exit the Mandovi. In April, the Captain of Ports proposed four potential new harbors, on the Zuari, Chapora, Tiracol and Aguada rivers. But the operators say none of these sites is suitable for their vessels, reported the website CalvinAyre.com.
In addition, the operators protested that there hasn’t been a “single problem arising” from the current location on Mandovi, therefore, there is “no good reason to disturb the industry and relocate” the boats.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has been slammed by critics who say he hasn’t taken a firm stand on the matter, missed several deadlines to move the boats, and should not have offered them another year to move. Parsekar deflected the criticism, saying the casino industry provides thousands of jobs to locals and generates significant revenue for the state government. Some Goans oppose the boats for moral and social reasons; others say the boats disrupt local fisheries.
Four offshore casinos currently operate on the Mandovi: the Boa Sorte; the Horseshoe; the Casino Royale; and the Pride of Goa. A fifth casino boat, the Royale Deltin, previously operated near Chorao Island and is in the process of relocating to the River Mandovi.
