Panaji : Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Wednesday strongly condemned the BJP Government’s decision to denotify 3.33 lakh sq. mt. of command area land under the Tillari Irrigation Project at Dhargal, Pernem, to facilitate investment by M/s Delta Corporation Limited.

Alemao recalled that he had raised this issue during the last Assembly session, warning the government to reconsider its move.

“Despite stiff opposition from locals and opposition MLAs, the government is determined to grant immunity to Deltin Corp, seemingly with the sole intention of turning Goa into a gambling hub. I strongly condemn this act of favouring Delta Corp by denotifying nearly 3,33,805 sq. metres of land from the Command Area Development Authority (CADA),” Alemao said.

He further said that the government’s intentions are dubious.

“We are convinced that this government wants to establish a ‘Casino City’ in Dhargal. This decision is driven by the hefty hafta collected from casino operators. Without such vested interests, the government would never have denotified this land.”

Alemao criticized the public consultation process, calling it a mere formality.

“Suggestions and objections from citizens are ignored. The government has already decided to sell our land to casinos. First, they polluted the Mandovi river, and now they are attempting to pollute the culture of our villages by inviting casinos.”

The Congress leader vowed to raise the matter again in the forthcoming Assembly session and demand clarification from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

“This government is completely under the control of the casino lobby and its crony capitalist allies. The move to denotify 3.33 lakh sq. mt. of Tillari command area land is proof of that,” Alemao asserted.