Big bets: New rules to gamble, police bill to see light of day

Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the state government intends to notify new rules for casino operations under the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, to regulate them.
After 15 years, the Goa Police Bill may finally see the light of day. In his budget speech on Wednesday, the chief minister said that the government has initiated the process to draft the new Goa Police Bill, 2023, in line with the model bill prepared by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA).
The bill will be introduced in the next assembly session, he said.
It will bestow additional regulatory powers on the department, like keeping criminals under surveillance, police sources said.
The state government will enact the Model Draft Goa Fire and Emergency Services Bill, 2023, as shared by the MHA, the chief minister said.
The bill is comprehensive and will cater to all aspects of fire and emergency services in the state.
Sawant increased the total allocation to the home department to over Rs 1,300 crore.
The budget also proposes to make the Goa Welfare Pension Scheme for seafarers permanent.
Regarding the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards extortion threats, the chief minister said: “The government will soon launch a mobile app where such cases can be reported directly to the police.”
The total allocation to the fire and emergency services has been increased by 21.56% to Rs 129 crore.
A capital provision of Rs 44 crore has been proposed to strengthen the firefighting infrastructure, the chief minister said.