Panaji: The state cabinet has permitted the casino industry to restart operations from November 1. Briefing media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said casinos, which have remained shut since March this year due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown, have been permitted to reopen at 50 per cent capacity by following the Standard Operating Procedures, which will be issued by the state’s home department.
He said the cabinet has also granted an approval to the monthly advance payment of fees by casinos instead of the 12-month advance fees as was the practice earlier. “However, they will be asked to pay the licence fees for the elapsed months from March to October,” he said.
The council of ministers resolved to ‘post facto’ approve the proposal for the department of information technology to extend the contract of M/s Nupur Technologies Pvt Ltd for providing annual maintenance contract (AMC) of the extended GBBN connectivity and computer networking in various government departments and corporations/ autonomous bodies for a period of six months from December 12, 2019 to June 19, 2020 on the same terms and conditions.
The cabinet also approved the appointment of a’XYKno Capital Services as advisor cum consultant for mine developer and operator (MDO) for the coal block allotted to Goa Industrial Development Corporation at Dongri Tal II phase I, coal block, Singrauli coalfield in Madhya Pradesh.
The cabinet also granted approval for commencing the process of preparing property registers for immovable property title documents under the central government’s Swamitva Yojna.
The Chief Minister said the government will direct all departments, local bodies and concerned state agencies to be liable and responsible for accuracy, completeness and updation of their respective information in the Property Register.
The cabinet also granted approval to rechristen the Ministry/ Department of Non-Conventional Sources of Energy to Ministry/ Department of New and Renewable Energy.
Mayor: CCP yet to renew offshore casino licences
Panaji: Reacting to the state cabinet decision to reopen casino operations from November, Panaji Mayor Uday Madkaikar said on Wednesday that the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is yet to renew the offshore casino licences.
“CCP has not yet renewed offshore casinos licences, as we stand by our old statement. We have not taken any decision as yet,” Madkaikar said.
Speaking to this daily, Madkaikar said he will meet the Chief Minister in the next two days and added that only the Chief Minister would be able to comment on the offshore casinos.
“We were assured by the Minister for Ports Michael Lobo that two offshore casinos would be shifted from the Panaji side of Mandovi to the Aguada side, but it has not happened. We will meet the Chief Minister with our demands in a day or two and after holding a discussion with him I will be able to reveal our stand on the offshore casinos,” he said.
It may be noted that the CCP had decided not to renew the licences of the offshore casinos despite the loss of revenue to it.
Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate had promised to shift the casino vessels out of the Mandovi river within 100 days of getting elected. NT
