PANAJI
Expressing concern over the sentiment of uncertainty among the beach shack operator community with regard to the suspense and uncertainty on the tourism department's shack policy, multiple legislators urged the Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to ensure that there is clarity on it.
Participating in the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to the ministry, MLAs from both the ruling as well as Opposition benches expressed concern over the introduction of the "model shacks" policy and also the continuing ambiguity related to the ratio of allotment of shacks to new entrants, and the various categories of experienced operators.
Nuvem MLA, Aleixo Sequeira raised the issue of the disquiet among shack operators on the exhorbitant costs of the 'model shack' which the tourism department is proposing to introduce from this year's season.
"I am told that these model shacks will cost Rs one-crore. Our Goan youth will find it very difficult to take these up even on lease," Sequeira said.
On the beach shack policy and the confusion surrounding the lottery allotment process, he suggested that 10 per-cent of the shacks be allotted to new entrants and another 10 percent to those with 1-4 years experience.
Those with 5-9 years experience operators be alloted 30 percent of the shacks and 50 per-cent be reserved for those with 10 years and more experience.
Sequeira also said, that although Goa is renowned as a tourist place, its image was being tarnished of late and urged the government to take some action to check the nuisance caused by touts.
Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares-Ferreira raised questions over the lopsided contract signed by the tourism department with a private party with regard to the operation of a boat 'Nirvana' and demanded that the government review it.
He said, the tourism department was paying out up to Rs 2 crores annually to the party to maintain and operate the boat with scope of revenue to be earned very minimal alleging it to be a scam. He asked that the government review the arrangement and terminate the deal if necessary.
Alvares-Ferreira also made a case for the tourism department to collaborate with the Forest department to promote eco-tourism. He also urged the minister to consider heritage tourism circuits in the hinterland which he said has vast scope.
Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo asked the Minister to pay attention to providing facilities like changing rooms, washrooms and such other requirements of tourists along beaches. She also urged better illumination and CCTV coverage on the beaches so tourists feel safe, especially after sundown.
Mandrem MLA, Jit Arolkar also raised the demand for parking facilities, changing rooms and greater frequency of tourist police frequency in the beach areas of his constituency in Arambol, Keri and Morjim. He also asked the minister to see if the number of shacks could be increased as unemployed local youth could venture into the business and earn a livelihood.
Arolkar also raised the issue of large number of encroachments on tourism department land in his constituency and asked the minister to resolve it. He said, the tourism and animal husbandry departments should jointly come up with a solution to the menace of cattle and stray animals swarming the beaches.
