PANAJI
Amid growing concerns over illegal operations at Goa's beach shacks, officials have weighed in on the challenges of enforcing regulations.
One Tourism Department official acknowledged the ongoing issue of sub-letting, confirming that enforcement orders have been issued to address violations.
“Enforcement order is issued to the officials of the Department of Tourism to check if any of the clauses of the Goa State Shack Policy for the erection of temporary seasonal structures, beach shacks, deck beds/ umbrellas, for tourist seasons 2023-26 are violated by any of the shack allottees including sub-letting. We are in the process of identifying illegalities committed by beach shack allottees,” the official said, speaking to 'The Goan'.
When asked whether the department and related government agencies were working in tandem to tackle the illegalities, the official said, “We are working together to identify illegalities and take suitable action as per law,” he said.
In a recent high-level interdepartmental meeting chaired by Chief Secretary V Candavelou the tourism and police departments agreed to work in a more coordinated approach on the law and order front.
On the matter of monitoring deck beds, chairs and tables -- often seen spilling beyond their designated spaces -- the tourism department claims to have deployed two Taluka Level Supervisors, one for North Goa and another for South Goa, along with 42 wardens.
Officials stated that confiscation drives are conducted “as and when illegalities are noticed,” but regular visitors and stakeholders argue that violations continue unchecked.
“Quite a few shacks, particularly in North Goa, have placed extra deck beds, chairs, and tables right up to the beach. These are removed only during short-term drives by the authorities, but thereafter it comes back to create menace,” a senior member of a shack owners’ association told 'The Goan'.
