MARGAO
The Cabinet has given its nod for the new beach shack policy, with the Tourism Department even relaxing the age bar for shack owners after an uproar by the beach shack owners.
Shack owners, however, have a simple question for the Tourism Department in particular and the government in general “ when would the government set in motion the process for the issuance of the provisional licence to the shack owners as per the Tourism policy for erection of temporary seasonal structures, beach shacks, huts and others?
Armed with the High Court judgement in a Public Interest Litigation, beach shack owners said the High Court order had mandated the Tourism Department to issue a provisional licence to the shack owners at least a month or two before the tourist season commences each year as per the Tourism policy.
In fact, shack owners pointed out that the High Court judgement mandates the Tourism Department to consider making allotments and issuing provisional licences at least a month or two before the tourism season commences each year.
Sadly, they pointed out that September month will end in another 10 days, but even the new beach shack policy is not explained to the shack owners, leave alone issuing the provisional licence to set up the shacks.
President of Goa Shack Owners Society, Cruz Cardozo told The Goan that the High Court judgement had observed that the Director of Tourism must also consider the plight of the shack allottees (shack owners). He stated that the High Court order had stated that the Director of Tourism must consider making allotments and issuing provisional licences at least a month or two before the tourist season commences each year.
Cruz said the High Court had further observed, “This will help the shack allottees to apply for permissions from GSPCB, panchayat, etc, well in advance. The Director of Tourism must also not delay inspections after the shack allottees report compliances. A checklist must be maintained, and this must also be shared with the shack allottees so that they can report compliances expeditiously.
“If the tourism season starts from September 1 and ends in May, why is the government delaying the issuance of provisional licence to erect the beach shacks. The shacks cannot be erected overnight. We have to obtain so many permissions,” he added.
The Shack Owners Society president has taken exception to the fact that the new beach shack policy is still not unveiled by the government to the shack owners till date.
To a question on handling of sewage waste by the beach shacks, Cruz pointed out that the beach shack owners from Salcete coastal belt had a meeting with Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, adding that the shack owners will soon have another round of meeting before working out a plan of action.
