Panaji: Congress party has exposed one of the major nexus between the State government and Casino lobby in the form of illegal office with the toilet block being erected on the footpath, just next to Captain of Ports building.
The Congress party delegation comprising spokesman siddhanath Buyao, Goa Pradesh mahila congress committee president Pratima Coutinho, Senior leader Avinash Tavares, Panaji block committee president Mahesh Amonkar met Captain of Port officials over the illegality.
“We were shocked that the Captain of Ports officials were giving us unsatisfied answers. They could not answer our questions and when we conducted physical inspection of the office on the footpath, we found that there was a toilet block and sewerage being released directly in River Mandovi,” Coutinho told reporters.
She alleged that the Captain of Port officials might be receiving the bribe from the Casino operator due to which such a blatant illegality is allowed. She said that the footpath is encroached upon leaving no space for the locals to walk.
Buyao said that during the press conference held last week, Congress had given warning to the casino operator to move his office from the footpath. “We want the footpath to be cleared. Also they should immediately stop the toilet block,” he said.
Taking jibe at BJP, Buyao said that the party speaks of ‘Swatcch Bharat Abhiyaan’ on one side, while on other side allows the sewerage to be released in the water.
Buyao termed Cabinet Advisory committee as Casino Advisory Committee which is fully backing all the illegalities committed by the casino industry. “We are giving two days’ time for the casino operator to clear the mess from the footpath or else we will demolish it,” he said.
Buyao said that the feeder boats are illegally plying. “The feeder boat has no renewal. Also casino ships are exceeding the carrying capacity,” he added.
