Casinos allowed to operate until next cabinet meeting

KATHMANDU, April 6 :

The government has decided to let the casinos operate until a new decision is taken on their fate by the cabinet.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) had asked eight casinos to pay outstanding dues and renew their licenses by Friday.

They owe combined outstanding dues of Rs 1.07 billion to the government.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bhim Acharya told Republica that he had decided to let the casinos operate as usual until the cabinet decides their fate. He also said staffers of casinos appealed to him for more time as they are still to receive salaries and benefits from their employers.

Acharya is of the view that casinos need at least another two weeks to pay their staffers off.

“I won´t send police to padlock the casinos right away. The upcoming cabinet meeting will decide on the issue,” he added.

The cabinet meeting is held every Thursdays. It is also held on Mondays when needed.

Minister Acharya, however, denied to specify when the next cabinet meeting will he held.

“The employees have told me casinos need two weeks to pay their salaries,” Acharya said, “They have promised me that they won´t protest shutdown of casinos after they receive salaries and other benefits.”

The cabinet meeting held on March 20 had given casinos the final deadline of April 4 to clear their outstanding dues and renew their license.

Kishor Silwal, president of Casino Association of Nepal, hoped Monday´s cabinet meeting will give them some time to pay their dues and address their demand.

Cabinet operators have long been pressing the government to rollback the decision of doubling their royalty and revenue.

Source: Republica