Porvorim:The Congress party has questioned Goa government’s decision to allow casino at proposed international airport at Mopa in North Goa, which would be commissioned in the year 2021.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant responding to a question on the floor of the House had said that the proposed Greenfield Airport will have casinos besides hotels and other facilities in it.
GMR International has won the contract to built and operate this Airport, which would be the second such facility in the state.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat told reporters on Wednesday that the gambling act does not allow casinos to be located at the Airport.
“Goa Gambling Act defines where casinos can be located in in the state. Till today, there is nothing in the Act that allows casinos to be set up at the airport,” Kamat, former chief minister of the state, said.
“I don’t know how government signed with the concessioner that casinos would be allowed at the airport. That is the fundamental question,” he said.
The LoP said that he would be raising this question during the Demands for Grants on Home department which are scheduled later days during the ongoing monsoon session of the assembly.
Earlier this week, responding to a question tabled by BJP MLA Wilfred de Sa, the chief minister had replied that 232 acres of land at the airport had been earmarked for commercial development.
Apart from casinos, hotels of various categories, eco-adventure and wellness resorts, as well as a shopping plaza would be constructed at the airport, he had said.
During the old law set up, there was no mention of the new greenfield MOPA airport. Naturally, before the start, the law will be amended.
Having Casinos for tourists in the River is a problem. Having it far away only for Airport users is also a problem.
#CONgress needs to do better than just questioning.