The shack allotment process is finally over, much to the relief of shack owners and stakeholders, but bigger questions linger on the road ahead and the seriousness of the tourism department to iron out perennial issues. Surprisingly, even before the shacks could be allotted, structures, including beach beds have already sprouted along the shore. The hurry is understandable because crucial time is already lost due to the delay in finalizing coastal management plans. Also agreed that the shack owners have paid huge licence fees and there is a bleak projection of the season in the background. But all said and done, procedures and rules governing shacks cannot be bypassed at any cost. It goes to show that there are backroom dealings that have happened and money that has changed hands. Rules cannot be blatantly violated without the active connivance of the tourism department officials.
However, there is a lot to expect from the tourism department this time with a shack policy in place. Lest we forget, Tourism Minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar while launching the policy had sent out a stern message that his department will clamp down on those sub-letting shacks to outsiders. While there are many Goans who continue to sub-let their shacks after allotment and make a quick buck, there is still no mechanism in place to check this. Words alone cannot stop this allotment trade-off, there need to be concrete measures put in place.
Ajgaonkar had sought help of stakeholders to clamp down on illegalities, including drug trafficking and nuisance created by hawkers. But we can’t understand why enforcement is failing?
There is a promise to make Goan beaches beggar-free, hawker-free, and liquor drinking-free. Beggars and hawkers continue to do brisk business in broad daylight and we continue to see smashed liquor bottles along the coast. Confiscating of goods hasn’t deterred hawkers, neither is the ban effective. Goa has banned open defecation, but there are desi tourists who continue to have a free run.
The tourism minister promised toilets and changing rooms. There was even an assurance on garbage disposal systems. Ajgaonkar had promised an app wherein info on waste lying on any beach could be uploaded and the contractor would lift it away within two hours. The shack policy makes CCTVs mandatory. There is health department clearance needed besides an NOC from fire services. But where is the check on these compliances?
The clutter of beach beds has been an eyesore every season and the way shack owners have gone ahead positioning them ahead of allocation only goes to show that very little is going to change. Calling out to stakeholders for help is not going to help because these are systemic failures that need to be addressed by Ajgaonkar and his team. It’s high time the tourism department follows its shack policy in letter and spirit and clears the mess on beaches.
