GA-CASINOS-CONGRESS

Goa: Cong questions plan to set up casinos at upcoming airport
    Panaji, Jul 31 (PTI) The Congress questioned on
Wednesday the Goa government's decision to set up casinos at
the proposed international airport at Mopa in North Goa
    Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had recently said in the
state Assembly that the proposed greenfield airport will have
casinos, besides hotels and other facilities in it.
    GMR International has won the contract to built and
operate this airport, which would be the second such facility
in the state once commissioned in 2021.
    Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Leader of
Opposition Digambar Kamat said the Gambling Act does not allow
casinos to be set up at an airport.
    "The Goa Gambling Act defines where casinos can be
operated in the state. So far, there is nothing in the Act
that allows casinos to be set up at the airport," the former
chief minister said.
    "I don't know how the government signed with the
concessioner that casinos would be allowed at the airport.
That is the fundamental question," Kamat added.
    The LoP said he would raise this question in the
ongoing monsoon session of the Assembly.
    Responding to a question tabled by BJP MLA Wilfred De
Sa earlier this week, Sawant had said in the House that 232
acres of land at the airport has been earmarked for commercial
development.
    Apart from casinos, hotels of various categories,
eco-adventure and wellness resorts, as well as a shopping
plaza would be constructed at the airport, he had said. PTI
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)