PAC directs Casinos not to allow Nepalis, strictly

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the Legislature-Parliament today reiterated its earlier direction to revoke licences of those casinos that have not adhered to the strict ruling of the committee not to allow Nepalis in the casinos, and have not paid their dues.
The parliamentary committee also directed the concerned ministries to recover dues by auctioning casinos' property, ensure rights of staffs currently working in casinos, keep entry records of visitors and present Casino Regulation within a week before the committee.
The committee reiterating its decision of December 28, 2010 and January 27, directed Finance Ministry, Tourism Ministry and Inland Revenue Department to present the update every 15 days.
Earlier on January 27, the parliamentary committee has directed the Tourism Ministry to revoke the licence of the casinos, if they didnot pay their dues within 35 days. "However, the casinos are still operating without paying dues and allowing Nepalis in to play against the law of the land and directives of the committee," said Constituent Assembly (CA) member Dhan Raj Gurung.
After the committee's decree, some casions have cleared their dues, some have paid only a little and others have disobeyed, he said, adding that the earlier directives should be implemented immediately. "If casinos will not pay, the hotels that have been granted licence to operate casino will pay." The casinos have paid Rs 512 million after the committees decree to revoke the licence, if they donot pay their dues.
"However, some of the casino owners are out of touch disobeying the parliamentary committee," another CA member Lal Babu Pandit said, accusing them of trying to influence the politicians and bureaucracy to seek amnesty.
"If the committee does not bring them to book, government coffer will hit hard," he added.
Most of the parliamentarians showed serious concern over social security of staff, who are employed in the casinos that have not paid their dues.
"To safeguard social security of some 7,000 to 8,000 staff, the assets of those casinos -- that have not paid by the deadline -- have to be auctioned and staff be paid their salary," said CA member Narayan Dahal. "Some of the casinos have not paid their staff since four months. One staff is reportedly committed suicide yesterday as he was frustrated with the casino that did not pay his salary."
Though parliamentarians came heavily on the casinos, they opined that the tourism sector should not be discouraged as the five-star hotels that have the licence to operate casinos are paying their taxes regularly. "Casinos have to be regulated and brought to book without discouraging tourism sector," they said. The parliamentarians also thanked tourism minintry for closing mini-casinos after their order.

Casino Anna gets new investor
KATHMANDU: Casino Anna has got new investor Shivam Intex Hotel and Restaurent Pvt Ltd owned by Arun Kumar Singh and Ashok Wassan. "We have got the new company -- that has registered itself yesterday formally -- to operate Casino Anna," said Nepal Tourism, Hotel, Casino and Restaurent Workers' Union executive member Krishna Pandey. Shivam Intex Hotel and Restaurent Pvt Ltd bought 50 per cent share from Nepal Recreation Centre (NRC) that was operating the casino earlier and is brining investment from India.