NT Reporter
Panaji
A group of Panaji residents under the banner Ponjekars Against Casinos has strongly opposed the proposal to introduce a new casino vessel in the River Mandovi.
The group demanded immediate steps by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to stop the entry of the proposed casino vessel and to initiate the process of phasing out existing casino vessels from Panaji city.
They submitted a memorandum to CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate, who assured them that their request would be placed before the council meeting scheduled for February 12.
Stating that he personally does not support casinos, Monserrate said, “I don’t gamble also, and I don’t like the habit personally. But they are in the city and also contribute a lot to the city’s economy which is why people
tolerate them.”
“People have come to express their concerns regarding the casino vessel. Since they represent a portion of the city, we have agreed to put their appeal in front of the Council meeting,” Monserrate said, clarifying that the CCP has no role in issuing casino licences.
“That comes under various other departments including the Home Department, Captain of Ports, etc. CCP only grants a trade licence to the offices that they have on land. At the most, what we do is collect the garbage fee that is paid for. The river is not our jurisdiction at all,” he said, adding, “There are issues that we have also. Parking is an issue, and there are a lot of social issues also.”
In their memorandum, the citizens said they were shocked to find major works, including installation of mooring buoys and other activities, taking place in the River Mandovi between the Captain of Ports Jetty and the Santa Monica Jetty.
“Upon enquiries, we learnt that the activities were being carried out to accommodate a new 112m-long and 26.5m-highcasino vessel in the River Mandovi. We, the residents of Panaji, are the direct sufferers of the menace created by the offshore vessels and will not allow any further expansion of these vessels,” the local stated in
the letter.
The memorandum also stated that law and order issues such as black money, prostitution, drugs and violent crimes, including murders and assaults, have increased significantly due to casino activity, directly affecting Panaji residents.
It also said that independent expert members of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority had expressed serious apprehensions about the health of the river ecosystem due to multiple large floating casinos, yet approvals were granted despite these concerns.
