------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ Casinos now at sea, vessels to operate 1-5 nautical miles off city ------------------------------------------------------------------ Belatedly agreeing with the sentiments of the citizens, the State Government has finally decided to move all the six off-shore casino vessels away from the present anchorage sites in the Mandovi River, within 15 days.
The vessels will move out from the ‘city limits’ (between Mandovi bridge and off Kala Academy) and shift their operations sea-wards — between one and five nautical miles. Addressing a press conference post Cabinet meeting on Tuesday here, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the Cabinet deliberated on the casino issue and decided that they operate beyond city limits. “They have to operate from outside city limits”. Nonetheless, they would be able to come to the shore for refueling or some other work. “They can dock temporarily for a few hours for repairs or if they have to do some loading or refuelling. But they cannot park permanently, the way they have been doing”, Kamat said. Activists say today’s announcement by the Government is not exactly what the people have been demanding for and that secondly, the parameters are quite vague. The Government recently, had been under a lot of pressure from people and Opposition, to push the increasing fleet of casinos from city shores to the Arabian Sea. The BJP last week sounded a warning that the party would launch an agitation if casinos are not removed from the Mandovi by March 15. MORE CASINOS COMING!: The chief minister also stated that Cabinet was of the view that there is no harm to allow two-three more casinos, if they are away from the city limits, but did not comment whether more casinos permission are in the offing.According to him, people’s outcry is mainly because the vessels are prominently visible in the river. While Kamat did not comment or explain why casinos were allowed to operate so close to the city for so long, when “off-shore casinos” meant operating beyond one nautical mile, he said, casinos are a good source of revenue to the Government, and none should have any complaints, if they operate in mid-sea. In the days of trying times, extra revenue, is welcome, he contended. Officially, the Government gets Rs 5 crore by way of licensing fee,Rs 10 lakh as processing fee. Besides, they also pay other taxes, he said. On the question of disposing sewage into the Mandovi river, the Chief Minister said that some of the vessels have an inbuilt system to take care of sewage. Secretary J P Singh who is also the Home Secretary said the State Pollution Control Board has already issued notices to the operators. Until September 2008, only Caravela was in operation in the Mandovi. A few others were officially or unofficially anchored. Taking advantage of a decision taken by Rane Cabinet in 2006, six licenses were issued, some without even having clearances from Director General of Shipping. Adding to the existing fleet, one more ship has laid anchor in the river a week ago. It has no license to operate, chief secretary said. There’s another one which will come soon as the vessel which has been given the license is under construction, sources said. Licenses are issued by the Home Department. GAMING NORMS ON CARDS: In a related development, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the Government would bring in a gaming legislation within three months. The gaming legislation will go into issues of regulating gambling activities and more importantly, the payout ratio. A payout ratio is used to determine how much money the game gives to the players when compared to the money earned by the casino operators. In world’s top gaming centres, sources said the ratio is 70:30 in favour of the player. The proposed legislation, apparently will also deal with regulations of not only off-shore casinos but also on-shore gaming facilities. In Goa, around ten hotels have casinos. The proposed Bill is also likely to come out with rules for licensing and processing procedure. ---------------------------- HERALD 25/02/09 page 1 ---------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------
