Indian casino giant Delta Corp gets green-light for new Goa resort
Delta Corp Ltd, a prominent Indian casino operator, is set to build an expansive integrated resort in North Goa, after the state government cleared the way by denotifying a large tract of agricultural land originally earmarked for irrigation, according to local media reports.
The move has raised eyebrows, especially as it comes just two months after the state government unveiled the Goa State Amritkal Agriculture Policy, 2025—an initiative meant to boost farming and make the state self-sufficient in agriculture.
On 7 May 2025, the government denotified 3.3 lakh square metres (33 hectares) of land in Dhargalim, part of India’s Tillari irrigation project’s command area. This decision paved the way for Delta Corp to begin construction of a multi-use complex that will include three hotels, a convention centre, a multiplex, a retail zone, a water park, banquet spaces, and entertainment facilities for children.
Farmland cleared for IR construction
The land was originally part of the Rs 1,465-crore (€161 million) interstate Tillari irrigation scheme designed to irrigate over 14,500 hectares of farmland in Goa. Water from the Tillari dam, located in Maharashtra, is channelled through two main canals, serving regions in Bicholim, Bardez and Pernem talukas. The project has long been promoted as a lifeline for Goa’s drought-prone farming regions.
Despite this, the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (Goa IPB) pushed through the proposal without formal input from the Water Resources Department (WRD). In fact, a previous decision in 2022 had already earmarked 3.8 lakh sqm of land in Pernem for Delta Corp, without consultations with WRD.
Documents show that Delta Corp paid Rs 28 crore (€3.1 million) in conversion fees to convert the land from agricultural to commercial use. The government has defended its decision to waive an additional Rs 5.5 crore (€610,000) sought by the WRD, arguing that the company’s payment exceeded this amount fivefold.
Licence already issued in 2024
A construction licence for the final 3.3 lakh sqm area was issued to Delta Corp in February 2024, with a further Rs 10 crore (€1.1 million) in fees collected. The project now has all necessary clearances under the Goa Land Revenue Code and Town and Country Planning regulations.
While the government views the project as a major investment opportunity likely to boost tourism and employment, particularly in the Mopa airport region, critics argue that it undermines the state’s stated commitment to agricultural sustainability.
The contrasting policies have prompted questions over governance priorities in a state heavily reliant on both tourism and dwindling farmland. With North Goa already a hotspot for casino and hospitality ventures, the latest development adds to ongoing concerns about land diversion, water usage and long-term planning.
