Minister positive govt receptive to concerns of shack owners

Khaunte also urged the shack operators to double up and pay their fees as the government has extended the date up to November 4.

“The government is considering to reduce the fee for beach beds by around Rs 10,000. We will also look into the garbage issue put forth by the shack operators. We will find a way out within the next two days,” said Khaunte.

We need to help them and they need to help us. We have placed before them whatever steps the government has taken and they have also agreed.”

The tourism minister was addressing the media after meeting a delegation of Shack Owners Welfare Society on Wednesday.

Speaking further, Khaunte said the government was aware of the concerns of the shack owners and therefore extended their licence by one year.

“We are aware of the hard times they faced during the Covid period. They had requested for an extension of two years but we have agreed to extend the licence by one year. While extending the term we have explained to them about the fee structure. We will brief Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the whatever issues they face and take an appropriate decision,” he said.

The government increased the fee on beach beds by 150 per cent from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 from this year onwards, while also introducing garbage fee of Rs 10,000.

The shack operators were hoping that the government would reduce the increased licence fees, as assured by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

The tourism minister said there should be no scope for misunderstanding as the government has extended the licence of the shack operators by one year and therefore there will be no re-auctioning of shacks this year.

“As stakeholders, we have to work together for tourism to succeed. We want good tourists. We want quality tourists to come to Goa and therefore everyone should work for that to happen,” Khuante said.