the goan I network
PANAJI
With the new tourism season approaching, shack operators have demanded that the tourism department issue them proper beach shack licenses and not provisional ones.
A number of shack operators are in the process of paying license fees to the State government and they are hoping that they get beach shack licenses in time, which will help them in starting their business by the beginning of October.
President of All Goa Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardoso, said, “The tourism department should give us proper licenses straightaway, which are valid till May 31 next year. If they give us proper licenses, they can do inspection anytime to check if shacks are erected properly or not.”
Last year, the tourism department had first given provisional licenses to shack operators. The operators were supposed to start erecting their shacks and apply for excise license by showing provisional license.
After that, the department was supposed to issue them proper licenses.
But, in many cases, there was delay on part of the tourism department in issuing proper licenses after giving the the provisional ones. General Secretary All Goa Shack Owners Welfare Society John Lobo, said, “Last year, they gave me a provisional license initially and a proper license was issued in June this year, which is of no use.”
The tourism season extends from the beginning of October to the end of April. If a proper license is issued in June, it is of little use to a shack operator because June is off-season when only few tourists
visit Goa.
