At a meeting on Monday, the Panaji civic body has taken a decision not to renew trade licences of six off- shore casinos operating in the river Mandovi here at the end of their current term, a move that will force them to shift out of jurisdiction of the state capital Panaji.
The Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) took this decision during the meeting here.
As said by Mayor Uday Madkaikar, it was decided not to renew the trade licences of the off-shore casinos anchored in the Mandovi, which will eventually force them to move out of jurisdiction of Panaji.
He further said the trade licences of off-shore casinos have already been renewed for the present financial year, but once their validity expires, their permits will not be extended.
Atanasio Monserratte,the MLA of Panaji who wields influence over CCP, had assured to shift the off-shore casinos out of Panaji in run-up to the assembly by-election held in May.
These casinos which are also a major tourist attraction has been allowed by the Goa government to continue their operations in the river till March 2020.
In early September, Goa CM Pramod Sawant had said casinos are an important aspect of tourism in the state as they attract visitors.
