The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has shot
off a strong letter to the Tourism Department reminding
it of its responsibilities of guarding the coastal environment
and ensuring that the CRZ guidelines are followed in
true letter and spirit. The letter has sharply pointed out that
the department has failed to adhere to the GCZMA directives.
Interestingly, beach violations this time have been in the eye
of a storm, not because of shacks, but due to the events on the
shores, including high-profile beach weddings.
What has not caught the attention of the GCZMA is the blatant
violations by some shack operators, who have been using
and abusing the guidelines on beach beds. Some shack
owners have been setting up open air dining areas right on
the shore, providing tourists the luxury of candlelight dinners
with the waves at a stone’s throw. The dinner tables and chairs
are in addition to the several beach beds also laid out on the
shore. In the absence of any checks and balances from the
department, the coast has become shack owners’ paradise.
The GCZMA should step in and spell out stringent measures to
tackle this blatant violation.
