panaji
The representatives of Goa Shack Owners Association (GSOA) informed that as many as 86 shacks were totally and 70 partially damaged as a result of high tides caused by cyclone Ockhi.
Seby Fernandes, vice president, GSOA said, "We request the government to compensate those shack operators, who suffered total damage, at the earliest."
A lot of shacks saw everything right from their structure, platform to kitchen equipment being damaged by the cyclone, which fall in the category of totally damaged. Some of them could salvage their structure and equipment partially and they fall in the category of partially damaged.
The tricky part is that the tourist season is at its peak in December. Therefore, shack owners can't keep on waiting for the government to compensate them. Some of them have already re-erected their shacks at their own cost, but others are waiting for government to compensate them.
Fernandes continued, "They must be compensated on priority basis. If the government waits to follow their procedures, then the tourism season will get over."
Shack-operators' main complaint is that no one from government's side warned them about the cyclone and hence they were totally unprepared.
Cruz Cardozo, president of Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS), said, "We did not get any message from the government telling us in advance about the cyclone. 50% of shacks which got damaged could have been saved if there was a message."
Cardozo continued, "The situation is indeed very serious. Some of the operators have repaired their shacks. But, a lot of them cant afford to do so. In many cases, there is no money to pay our staff."
As per information shared by Cardozo, Morjim (6 shacks are totally damaged, 5 partially damaged), Arambol (1 shack totally damaged, 7 partially damaged), Majorda (all 10 shacks totally damaged), Colva (8 shacks totally damaged) and Cavellosim (4 shacks totally damaged, 6 shacks partially damaged) were the most affected beaches due to cyclone Ockhi.
Fernandes further said that operators must also learn a lesson to put their shacks away from the water. He said, "We had requested the tourism director to demarcate a line so that all shacks don't move ahead. The department can check if shacks are complying with this line using Google. Shacks are getting closer and closer to the
water on beaches due to competition."
