PANAJI
A delegation of traditional shack operators is likely to meet Tourism officials on Wednesday in a desperate bid to “remind” the government for implementing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s assurance of a reduction in the new increased license fees.
In the hope of slashed fee payment, over 50 percent of shack operators have missed the October 3 deadline, and its consequence is visible on the beach belt as only a countable number of beach shacks are put up to cater to its visitors.
President of Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) Cruz Cardozo is apprehensive that they will face a major setback if the matter is not resolved before the season officially commences.
“Charter arrivals are soon to begin and shacks are yet to come up. Many have already registered cancellations from their clients because there are no shacks. But the owners are waiting for the implementation of the government’s own decision. We have thus decided to meet the Tourism Director tomorrow (Wednesday) to remind him to grant the relief as promised by the CM,” he told The Goan.
In a recent decision, the government increased the license fee by about 80 percent while the tariff for deck beds has gone up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000. The CM was requested to reduce the fees which were agreed upon during an interaction with some shack operators of North Goa.
“Dussehra and Diwali were dark for many shack owners. We hope the charter season is not the same. If the issue isn’t resolved at the earliest, we will lose our foreign clients,” Cardozo lamented.
