Goa: en route to gambling paradise of India
By agencies   |   Tuesday, 05 September 2006, 19:30 IST
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PANAJI: The hottest tourist destination in India just turned hotter with the State Government of Goa permitting 10 casinos to operate just off its tourist-packed beaches. The first state to allow an off shore casino, Goa is set to become India’s Las Vegas with Caravela ready to operate on Mandovi river and slot-machines and roulette tables waiting to be gambled on in star hotels. Dilraj Kaur, special secretary (home), said that though several companies applied for off-shore vessels and locations, the government was lenient enough for only 10 casinos at this point for the burgeoning tourist crowd in this coastal paradise. Resisting the move, the state opposition had a different take on the matter. Manohar Parrikar, former BJP chief minister and leader of opposition said the Congress-led coalition was transforming Goa into a gambling den and in the direction of other casino centers like Las Vegas and Macau. "With the casino culture proliferating, money laundering, crime and prostitution would only increase, giving a blow to the culture of the state." Parrikar also took note of the fact that a processing fee was taken from applicants making it all the more certain that the government had already decided to grant the licenses. Retorting to the claim, a senior bureaucrat denied Parrikar’s charge stating that the processing fees was only to process applications without any guarantee of licenses. “Licenses would be granted only after vessels were cleared by DG Shipping (Central government) and captain of ports, Goa." The license for Caravela was granted during Parrikar’s tenure, but the former CM clarified saying that the previous government had already granted it before he took charge. And with the state polls approaching, BJP would be taking this issue of stopping Goa from becoming a gambling hub as the party’s key factor. "It is very clear that crime money would find its way and with it a whole lot of social problems for the tiny state of Goa, " said Parrikar.

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