Panaji: Goa government has rejected the licence for an offshore casino run by Delta Corp, which had applied for permit to replace its ship with a new one.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar turned down the permission for starting a casino on ship M V Horseshoe (owned by Delta Corp Limited).
"About the highly debated and publicised Horseshoe Casino, please note that its only a vessel. Permission for starting of casino has been rejected," Parrikar said on his official page on Facebook.
The Chief Minister has been facing criticism for allowing M V Horseshoe to replace M V Arabian Sea, another vessel which has permission to run a casino.
Parrikar has clarified that the state government has refused to give permission for the casino on the new ship, and its just a replacement for an old one.
"A vicious campaign is currently being run about supposed change in stance by my Government on the issue of casino. I would like to put it on record that my stand on casinos has not changed," the Chief Minister said.
"Six licenses were issued during Congress regime without following any procedure. I am firm in my stand that no new licenses will be issued by my Government. The actual number of operating offshore casinos has come down to three," he stated.
Parrikar said that due action has been taken on casinos not adhering to rules and regulations.
"One license has been cancelled and the ship (owned by former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda) is under process for confiscation by (state) Tourism Department since it poses threat to Goa tourism. The same will be towed away and auctioned as soon as final order is issued by the statutory authority concerned," he added.
PTI
