Alina opposes plans to shift casinos to Zuari

Panaji: Minister for museums and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha has reiterated her opposition to shifting casinos to River Zuari, be it at Cortalim or Sancoale. She added that she is vehemently opposing the marina projects at Sancoale bay and Nauxim.
She said, in a statement, that the proposal of a private party to host offshore casinos and facilitate the shifting of casino vessels to River Zuari, may appear attractive to casino owners but it doesn't take into account the interests of the most important stakeholders, the people of the area and the fishermen who earn their living on the waters of the area.The government is considering a proposal moved by a private party to shift casinos from River Mandovi.
"The proposal does not pay attention to the social and environmental impact caused by the shifting of casinos to the ecologically-sensitive Chicalim-Sancoale bay, which also plays host to the endangered placuna placenta or more commomly known windowpane oysters (menddeo). The Chicalim-Sancoale bay is the breeding ground for this species in the whole of Asia and needs to be protected from a biodiversity point of view," Saldanha said.
River Mandovi, she said, is already polluted, and the pollution shouldn't be allowed to be carried to the next major river of the state.
She further said that the government needs to look at the issue of infrastructure in the area holistically. Sancoale, which houses one of Goa's largest slums has narrow roads, suffers from insufficient power, water and inadequate garbage collection facilities.
The village is not equipped to cater to the additional load of vehicles that will come in and park along the narrow road, she said.