Offshore casinos in Goa get deadline extension

The relocation of offshore casinos from the Mandovi river was stopped for another six months as the government extended the deadline.

India.- The government of Goa decided to extend the deadline that forces offshore casinos to relocate from the Mandovi river. In April 2016 the deadline was modified and it was supposed to end in March 31.

A senior official from the government told the Press Trust of India that the State cabinet has granted extension to five offshore casinos to relocate from the Mandovi river from April 1 to Sep. 30. Last year, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said: “We had identified four locations which were Zuari river, Mandovi river mouth, Aguada Bay and Chapora river. But these locations were either not feasible for the casino operators or there was opposition from the locals.”

The government received petitions through the course of the last few months from employees who asked to stop the relocation as they would lose their jobs or even be forced to travel multiple hours to cover their shifts. The decision to extend the deadline deepens the differences between the ruling party and the opposition.