MARGAO
The South Goa coast will play host to only 98 beach shacks in this tourism season.
Work on the erections of the beach shacks, however, is expected to start only next week as the Tourism Department is scheduled to demarcate the areas around November 10.
Out of the total 105 beach shacks up for grabs, tourism officials from South Goa allotted only 98 shacks to the applicants after draw of lots.
Reason: There were no takers for the two beach shacks at Velsao beach. Besides, of the four beach shacks up for grabs at the Zalor beach, only a lone applicant had applied for the beach shack.
Similarly, the beach shacks at the Fatrade beach also went abegging. Of the seven beach shacks allotted for Fatrade, the tourism officials received only five applications.
The South Goa beach stretch was marked as stretch A and B for allotment of the shacks. Stretch A comprises of the areas of Majorda, Colva, Colva (Longuinos), Colva (Colmar), Benaulim, Calvado, Varca, Fatrade, Mobor (Cavelossim), Khandivado (Cavelossim). A total of 65 beach shacks were up for grabs in Stretch A. The officials had received around 154 applications. At the end of the day, 63 beach shacks were actually allotted after draw of lots.
Similarly, the Stretch B comprised of the areas of Velsao, Arossim, Utorda, Thonvado (Betalbatim), Ranvaddo (Betalbatim), Sunset beach (Betalbatim), Ghonsua (Betalbatim), Sernabatim (Colva), Velludo (Benaulim), Zalor and Baina.
A total of 203 applications were received by the department vying for the 105 shacks. The total shacks allotted after the draw of lots were pegged at 98.
Meanwhile, beach shack operators informed that actual erection of the shacks may take place only after next week after the demarcation exercise by the Tourism department. This is perhaps the first time in recent years that the beach shack business will start in mid-November when the beach shack operators have been demanding allotment of the shacks in the first week of September.
