The government has unveiled the shack policy, much to the surprise of stakeholders, a clear month ahead of the tourism season. But, it has also laid down some stringent rules and regulations for shack owners, apart from the massive hike in fees. And this could bring in gloom to a sector which has had a free run till now. There are two sides to this debate, and probably, it’s time for those screaming Goenkarponn to march out once again.
Licence fees are hiked up to 66 per cent, which means from the Rs 60,000 last year, shack owners will have to shell out Rs 1 lakh. The CCTV cameras which are proposed ahead of every allotment in recent times, resurface once again. However, this year, the government has made it mandatory. There are other interesting clauses in the policy such as setting up of bio-digester toilets, segregation of garbage and curbs on exhorbitant pricing of food and beverages.
On paper, all of this is well documented and sets a perfect pitch to streamline the till now unregulated shack business. But going by history, there are compelling reasons to believe that this policy too, like the several others, will remain more on paper. Otherwise, how does government explain the countless beach beds and tables that almost spread up to the waters? How does this go unnoticed by all authorities, when rules are being brazenly flouted and people inconvenienced? In fact, it’s a complete mockery of Goa’s beach-carrying capacity. Secondly, why have there been no health checks on food production at shacks, when it is a well-known fact that hygiene remains hugely compromised. Where is the FDA?
Talk about outrageous food pricing and we agree it is targeted towards the tourists. And probably, that’s the only money that shack owners feast upon to remain afloat. But the price regulatory mechanism that the government is experimenting is a eyewash for the fact that it has till now not bothered to tackle any violations that very openly meet the eye.
Mandatory setting up of surveillance cameras is again a welcome gesture, but how serious is the government about monitoring the footages? It may be pointed out that several high-resolution cameras that were installed at the cost of public money are now non-functional including those in Margao city itself, and nobody cares. Setting up of CCTVs at shacks would mean additional costs to shack owners.
If allotment of shacks on the basis of experience in the field could be reassuring to those in the shack business, the stringent requirements and a massive spurt in fees could wash away hopes of a better business this tourism season. There are 364 shacks to be set up this year, but with the odds against these tourist eat-outs are huge. The situation is going to be even worse with the State seeing a decline in high-spending tourists in recent times. The shack policy shows promise of cleaning up the mess, but with a dismal record of enforcement, the intent this time will be seriously tested.
