PANAJI
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority on Tuesday cleared the Goa Shack Policy for the years 2016-19 on a day when the All Goa Shack Owners Welfare Society spurred on by Goa Forward leaders gheraoed the Tourism Director Sanjeev Gauns Desai and laid siege to his office for several hours.
The newly-constituted GCZMA, which was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, took up the issue of the shack policy after a presentation by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management which is engaged in conducting the carrying capacity study for the state’s coastline.
The final copy of their report is yet to be handed over to the state government.
Earlier in the day, the protest by shack owners received a boost when members of Goa Forward Party led by their mentor Vijai Sardesai descended upon the Tourism Department and lent their support to the protesting shack owners.
Spurred on by the support they received, the shack owners barged into the office of the Director of Tourism who could only promise them that the policy is in the hands of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.
As luck would have it, as the protest picked up pace, GCZMA too began its meeting at the secretariat where the policy was passed.
Sources in the know revealed that the Tourism Department has only repeated the policy for the previous three years, and has only changed the dates, and the same has been submitted policy to GCZMA for its approval.
The policy is expected to be approved by the cabinet this week itself.
