Leela agrees to shift casino from Sal
PTI,
Panaji
21 September 2007
The Leela hotel group has
agreed to shift its second off-shore casino from river Sal, which sparked off
protest amongst local fishermen.
The second off-shore casino, licenced in
river Sal, had evoked strong protest from local people due to its location. The
fishermen had resented the move, alleging that the casino vessel was hindering
the movement of fishing trawlers.
The management of Hotel Leela agreed to
shift the vessel after a meeting with the Chief Minister on Wednesday. "They
(hotel) had agreed to shift it to a suitable location," Goa Chief Minister
Kamat told PTI.
The high-level meeting was held between Kamat and Vivek
Nair, Managing Director, Hotel Leela at the Chief Minister's official residence
here.
"The hotel has agreed to shift but has sought little time as
they want to complete few formalities," Kamat stated.
The off-shore
casino would be now shifted either to river Mandovi or in the seas, the hotel
spokesman said.
"We have to make the vessel sea-worthy and take appropriate
licences, if we have to shift away," the spokesman said adding the Chief
Minister has assured to look out for a suitable location to anchor the vessel.
Goa,
the state with off-shore casinos, already has one such ship armed with live gaming
facility in river Mandovi. The coastal state has agreed to permit five such off-shore
casinos in the state waters.
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