Panaji: Social activist and former Captain of Ports Elvis Gomes has accused the current administration of the Captain of Ports (CoP) department in Goa of issuing an “illegal” circular under the repealed Indian Ports Act, 1908 to allegedly expand the offshore casino corridor and bypass the authority of the State Maritime Board.

Addressing the media, Gomes referred to Circular No. B-11039/COP/25-26/945 dated March 6, 2026, claiming that it was issued by citing provisions of the 1908 law, which he said had been replaced by the Indian Ports Act, 2025 passed by Parliament.

Gomes alleged that the circular was a deliberate attempt to retain control over permissions for casino-linked infrastructure rather than transferring such powers to the State Maritime Board, which is mandated under the new legal framework. According to him, the Captain of Ports department can no longer exercise control over non-major ports, responsibilities such as port planning, infrastructure development, licensing, traffic regulation and enforcement of safety and environmental norms now fall under the jurisdiction of the Maritime Board.

He also questioned the circular’s claim of jurisdiction extending up to five nautical miles from the baseline into the sea. Gomes argued that under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, inland waters extend only up to the river mouth, and that expanding this limit could allow inland casino vessels to anchor and operate in territorial waters under inland navigation rules.

“The vessels operating in territorial waters fall under stricter safety and environmental regulations under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and the new port legislation. The circular appears to attempt to bypass these provisions,” Gomes alleged.

He further criticised a provision in the circular claiming authority over land up to 50 yards from the high-water mark, even if privately owned. According to Gomes, such a move could facilitate the construction of jetties and ramps linked to casino and coal operations without proper scrutiny from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).

Calling the circular “ultra vires,” Gomes said it also ignored the transfer of jurisdiction over Goa’s national waterways to the Inland Waterways Authority of India. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular and called for a high-level inquiry into why a repealed law was cited in a 2026 government directive.

Gomes also urged Ports Minister Digambar Kamat to clarify why the government had not fully implemented the new inland vessels law and established the State Maritime Board to exercise jurisdiction over the Panaji port.