The war of words over offshore casinos has been rumbling for months, flaring up and dying down again, but yesterday the Goa government finally sprang into action. The Pride of Goa, Rio, Caravela and Maharaja casino vessels were ordered to cease operations for violations of air and water pollution norms, and given one week in which to commence the formalities for obtaining a licence, valid for two years, from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSCB).

On Thursday a hearing at the Indian high court in Panaji will consider a petition brought by the casino operators challenging the government’s order to move the casino vessels away from the Mandovi River to the Aguada Bay area. The operators claim their licensing terms expressly give them permission to anchor in the Mandovi River. However, the Goa government is facing increasing hostility over the offshore casinos.

Last night the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) raided the onboard restaurants and sealed them for not having the appropriate licences to serve food. Only the original casino vessel Caravela, which has been operating for nearly ten years, has a valid FDA restaurant licence.

Members of the government, including the chief ministers’ office, have been accused by the opposition of rushing the formalities of casino licensing in return for payment. Yesterday Chief Minister Digambar Kamat caused further controversy by saying that there was no legal limit to the number of offshore casino licences that could be granted, despite having previously maintained that there would be a maximum of five. (E-03.18.09)

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