Manohar Parrikar govt to make coconut Goa state tree, shift offshore casinos out of Mandovi river

Panaji: The BJP and its alliance partners in the Goa government have decided to workout a policy to shift casinos out of Mandovi river.

“Shifting offshore casinos away from Mandovi river was one amongst the issues that was discussed with Manohar Parrikar during the meeting today,” state minister Rohan Khaunte told reporters after emerging from the meeting with Parrikar.

The first meeting of the Parrikar-led government to chalk out a “Common Minimum Programme” (CMP) was held on Wednesday.

“Several other issues were also discussed. This was preliminary interaction. We will meet again after 10-days to finetune the CMP,” said Khaunte.

“It has always been our demand to shift offshore casinos away from river Mandovi. We will perceive it as now we are part of the state government,” said Khaunte who was in the Opposition benches during the last tenure.

Goa Forward Party leader and state minister Vijai Sardesai said that the CMP would be ready by 30 May, which is the statehood day of Goa.

“During the meeting today, we discussed how to give a sensitive and responsible government to the people of the state,” he said.

The discussions were also held on providing uninterrupted water and electricity and also comprehensive mobility plan for the State connecting the cities, Sardesai said.

The minister said, “The process to draft Regional Plan will begin this year and the state government will also declare coconut as state tree.”

“The amendment to Forest Act, which had termed coconut as palm would be rescinded giving it a tree status,” said Sardesai.

He said that the government will also finetune activities of the State government’s Investment Promotion Board (IPB) to ensure that 80 percent of the employment in these projects is given to locals.