http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/Killed_Bills_Session_leaves_Parrikar_dejected/rssarticleshow/3424139.cms
Killed Bills: Session leaves Parrikar dejected 30 Aug 2008, 0504 hrs IST,TNN PANAJI: Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar's efforts to repeal the amendments to Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act through his private members' bill was defeated by 22 votes to 14. Parrikar's three other private members' bills, put for consideration and passing in the House on Friday, were either withdrawn or rejected. Speaking on his Goa Town and Country Planning (Repeal of Amendment Act No 10 of 2008), Parrikar said that 'government projects', which are beyond the purview of the regional plan through the controversial amendments, are not clearly defined. Describing this as dangerous, he said that private-public projects will also be able to escape scrutiny of the regional plan prohibitions. Further, BJP legislator, Francis D'Souza suggested that government projects should be recorded under the regional plan. The chief minister however countered that it is not possible to forecast legislators' requirements in terms of projects like police stations, fire stations, school buildings, etc. The Oppositon leader also accused the chief minister of signing a file approving the transfer of government acquired land at Candolim to its original owner. Parrikar's Goa Public Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2008, also failed to go through. The object of the Bill was to "confine offshore casinos to sea, five nautical miles away from the Goan coastline. The Bill also proposed to restrict offshore casinos to maritime vessels with the total exclusion of inland vessels." Home minister Ravi Naik explained that the government has been drafting amendments to the law and was in the process of gathering information on casino operations. Naik admitted that the government was unaware neither of the revenue earned by casinos nor other operational details. He said that government control over casinos needs to be stricter. Parrikar urged Naik to issue an executive order defining offshore as, "falling beyond 5 nautical miles" from the coastline and told him not to issue any licenses till his rules were framed. Parrikar said, "We will not allow 5 casinos on the Mandovi river regardless of what action you take." The Bill was however defeated after it was put to the vote of the House. Parrikar's 2 other private members bills: the Goa Ban on Immersion of Plaster of Paris Idols Bill, 2008 and the Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2008 were pulled out. The amendment to the last named bill sought to insert the following clause: "In the case of a woman candidate for election to the office of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch reserved for women candidates, the nominations shall be by self and there shall be no requirement for proposer or seconder."