100% dues to be recovered from casinos: Sawant

Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant told the assembly that state govt has issued notices to casino operators for the recovery of dues. Sawant said raids are being conducted at onshore casinos where live gaming takes place, while responding to a discussion on the demand for grants for the home department on Tuesday.

“Notices were issued, and 100% recovery will be completed. Some cases are in court,” Sawant said. “We have increased fees by 100% for new casinos.”

Sawant urged people to verify tenants because if a tenant is found involved in any criminal case, the homeowner shall be booked.

He stated that 12 new history-sheets were opened in the state and 471 touts were booked. He noted that police reach the scene of a crime in 11 minutes.

He denied the opposition’s charge that promotions have been held back in police. “Maximum promotions have been cleared during my tenure,” he said.

The CM said that the crime detection rate is increasing day by day, and awareness drives on cybercrime and women safety have been conducted.

Further, he said that state govt is working to reduce road accidents.

On another front, Sawant noted that the SIT probing land grab cases has arrested 75 persons, and 30 cases are active. He said 727 land grab cases were received, and over 600 cases have been disposed of.

Sawant said the work on the Patradevi Memorial will be completed by Dec 19.

Speaking on the finance department, Sawant said that he achieved the target of a revenue surplus budget. He said state govt’s borrowing limit was Rs 4,400 crore last year, but the state borrowed only Rs 1,500 crore to take up development work.

Where the excise department was concerned, Sawant said that revenue from liquor sales has doubled since 2020 — from Rs 491 crore to Rs 947 crore in 2024 — and this shows that tourism has increased in the state.

He said no truck carrying illegal liquor will cross the border.

Sawant noted that every month, GST collection is on the rise in the state.