Goa cabinet gives another six months time to offshore casinos

The Manohar Parrikar-led government today granted another six months time to the offshore casinos to continue their operations in Mandovi river as the state is planning to come up with a relocation policy for them.
The state will hold consultations with the casino industry and the stakeholders to draft the policy.
Talking to reporters, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the government will take a final call on shifting the casinos before December this year.
"We have granted extension to them by another six months for the vessels to continue in Mandovi river," he said after the cabinet meeting.
"The meetings and consultations will start with stakeholders in mid-October. In the meantime, as their period was getting over, we gave another extension of six months. The state government will require time till December to take a decision on the policy," Parrikar said.

"The government's decision (to have a relocation policy) as pointed out in the state assembly (recently-held session) will take some time to implement. The policy will be ready by December. Until then, we can't keep them hanging," he said in response to a question.
"Actually I don't require six months. By December, we will come out with the policy," he said.