The Tourism Department has turned on the heat on illegal structures along the coastline by sending notices and threatening to seal their premises for failure to register their business with the department. The department also warned about disconnecting water and electricity connections to the premises. An estimated 11,000 business establishments are reported to be operating illegally across the State.
The Tourism Department cracked down on illegal stalls and structural extensions at Colva earlier this week, a rare action witnessed at the tourism capital of South Goa reflects a sense of urgency as men and machinery swiftly razed down structures that stood tall for years along the creek. Around 30 extensions of establishments were floored within the Tourism Department complex catching businessmen off guard.
A sense of urgency to clear illegality is always welcome, but the question is about the department's failure to take cognizance of such businesses thriving across the State for decades. The figure of illegal businesses scattered along the coastline and elsewhere is astounding. It only goes to show that surveillance and enforcement machinery has failed miserably. The question is whether the intent seen in Colva will also be replicated elsewhere.
In Canacona, a tourism official informed that out of the 200 tourism-related businesses along the coast, only 30 were registered with the department. That's disgraceful and it reflects poorly on the system. While the hurdles faced by stakeholders in applying for permits are understandable, these can't be permissible excuses for operating illegally.
Unfortunately, the Tourism Department has realised the illegalities too late, having allowed such businesses to run for decades. The Director of Tourism Nikhil Dessai, who has been at the helm for quite some time, has to take ownership of this failure and for showing tolerance to wholesale illegalities. The mess that is allowed to pile up negates the faint signs of revival.
Cut into the tourism season, and again, the recent order that grabbed headlines for the cleansing it promised appears to have been forgotten in quick time. Undisciplined tourists continue to create a nuisance by engaging in cooking in open spaces, drinking alcohol on the beach, hawking or begging, etc. The law is not being enforced with the seriousness that was expected. The ground situation has remained unchanged. We see the periodic ritual of issuing guidelines to shack owners falling on deaf ears. Beach beds continue to invade the coast, and illegalities continue to happen right under the nose of officials.
The intent behind the operations of the tourism department becomes questionable because of inconsistency.
It's time politicos stop coming in the way of action against illegalities. An illegality cannot get a lease of life or any political cover. Those political leaders trying to intervene are only eying an opportunity to build their electoral fortunes.
The tourism department has shown a lot of promise in making bold announcements this time, and it is to be seen how it proceeds as a new season unfolds.
