PANAJI
With seven permissions in hand, most shack operators are ready to begin operations in the coming week “ coinciding with the start of tourism season. However, the excise license is pending as the existing law does not define giving temporary licenses before October 1.
The shack operators stated that after receiving the provisional shack license from the Tourism Department in August, they applied to link departments which granted them NOCs. The Excise Department however expressed reservations, as this is the only pending permission.
“As per the existing rules, temporary excise licenses cannot be issued before October 1. We will write to the government requesting early issuance of excise license from next year. It will be in line with other permissions, which have been granted early from this season,” President of Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardozo said speaking to The Goan.
With NOCs from Panchayat, Electricity, PWD (water connection), Health, Food & Drugs Administration and Fire and Emergency Services; the shack operators will now wait for excise licenses.
“Until we get the excise license, we will operate without serving liquor. However, we expect the Excise Department to begin issuing licenses based on other permissions from October 1,” he said.
The final permission required is the 'consent to operate' from the Goa State Pollution Control Board which has already granted 'consent to establish' allowing the setting up of shacks at designated locations on the beaches.
Around 80 per cent of shacks are expected to be operational but the availability of workers will be another problem. “We have already informed our employees to report to work early,” Cardozo said.
