Panaji: Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) on Wednesday said that they have kept on hold trade licences of the off shore casino vessels, which will make it difficult to resume their operations.
All the six off shore casino vessels have been shut down since March end due to COVID-19 pandemic situation in the State. These casinos, mounted on a ship, are operational in River Mandovi next to capital city of Panaji.
CCP Mayor Uday Madkaikar told reporters that three off shore casinos had applied for renewal of their trade licence, which has been kept on hold.
Madkaikar said that the CCP, which is mentored by Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserratte, had decided “not to renew the trade licence of the off shore casinos.”
Monserratte who contested 2019 Panaji by election after the death of Manohar Parrikar, had assured to shift off shore casinos out of river Mandovi within hundred days.
“Our stand is very clear. We don’t want off shore casinos to operate in River Mandovi. That is the reason why we have decided not to renew their trade licences,” he said.
The trade licences were due to be renewed after March 31.
Madkaikar said that CCP would have cumulatively earned Rs 25 lakh through renewal of all the three trade licences.
He said that the off shore casinos were nuisance for the city dwellers as there was chaos on the streets of Panaji during evening time, when off shore casinos attract maximum footfalls for the day.
