Activists call delay in shifting Deltin casino ‘excuses’

Panaji: Activists from the Ponnjekars Against Casinos group met the Captain of Ports on Thursday, where they demanded that authorities outright reject Delta Corp’s proposal to bring in the 112-metre-long offshore casino vessel into the Mandovi river.The activists also demanded that the Deltin Royale casino, which operates onboard the MV Horseshoe vessel, should be removed from its temporary location near the old secretariat.“When we met the Captain of Ports in Feb, he said that the Deltin Royale casino will move out of its temporary location on April 30. It is now May 7, and they say the vessel can’t be shifted as mooring work could not be completed because the monsoons are near. These are excuses,” said a local resident Chryselle Dias.Ponnjekars Against Casinos said that the offshore casino is close to a residential area and the music, strobe lights and vehicular movement at night disturb residents. The group has also demanded that govt should categorically deny permission for Delta Corp’s new offshore casino.“Govt has to take a clear stand that when they give a licence for a vessel, it is a vessel of that size and when a new vessel comes in, a fresh licence needs to be taken. You cannot have a new, larger vessel on the same licence,” said activist Sabina Martins.