Minister for Ports Administration Dilip Parulekar said that the Council of Ministers had resolved to grant a further extension to the offshore casinos to relocate their vessels from River Mandovi for a further period till an alternative feasible site is finalized or till March 31, 2017, whichever is earlier.
Accordingly directions were issued to COP to revisit the four identified sites – River Chapora, River Mandovi off Aguada Bay, River Zuari and River Sal – and submit a proposal for the government’s consideration.
“All these sites were initially rejected on feasibility ground and following opposition from the locals. During the re-inspection of the same between March-May, the department noted similar observations,” Minister said.
“CoP has now come across a suitable location at Chicalim Bay in River Zuari which falls in the jurisdiction of Mormugao Port Trust,” Parulekar added.