A classic example of one department (forest dept) washing their hands off and passing the buck to another department ( Capt.of Ports) and then we have Mr.Parsekar himself making statements that Casinos cannot be stopped ! This government has no will to stop casinos, this is the be all – end all
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Move-MV-Flotal-from-Chorao-area-Forest-dept-to-CoP/articleshow/53123090.cms
The forest department on Friday objected to the anchoring of a casino vessel near the Dr Salim Ali bird sanctuary and directed the captain of ports (CoP) to immediately shift the vessel. On Thursday, a group of protesting locals had given the government a 15-day ultimatum to shit the casino from the Ribandar side.
Forest department officials, after inspecting the vessel had sent CoP some queries. “We had asked CoP for a report on the distance of the vessel from the sanctuary and among other pollutions, the level of noise pollution it caused,” environment and forest minister Rajendra Arlekar told TOI , and added that CoP was given till 1pm on Friday to furnish details.
“As the CoP failed to answer the queries, the forest department has directed the CoP to move M V Flotal away from the protected bird habitat,” Arlekar said.
Casino Deltin Caravela, Goa’s first offshore casino arrived in the River Mandovi last month, refurbished as a five-star floating hotel-cum-casino.
A first of its kind in Goa, Deltin group said the vessel was designed to attract the creme de la creme of the high-end tourist only with the aim of giving the tourism sector a major boost in terms of high spending visitors.
At the time CoP had granted permission the vessel permission to anchor at Britona, close to the Britona church, but as there was opposition it was moved towards Ribandar, near the bird sanctuary.
The state government recently renewed the gaming licence of Deltin Pleasure Cruise Company Private Limited, which belongs to Delta Group.
In May 2013, the casino was moved out of the River Mandovi for refurbishing. It was renamed M V Flotal.