PANAJI
In a revised order, the Tourism Department has increased the total number of shacks from 254 to 259 on the northern coast.
An increase of five shacks is keeping in line with the beach carrying capacity report of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). With this, the overall shacks to be allotted for the tourist season 2023- 26 will be 364 “ 259 in North Goa and 105 in South Goa.
The GCZMA had last month granted permission for setting up 359 beach shacks after which the Tourism Department proposed to increase the total in the populated northern belt.
The GCZMA’s meeting thereafter approved the proposal to permit 364 beach shacks considering the beach carrying capacity. As per the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) report on the beach carrying capacity, the total shacks permitted are 1131 for the State.
The maximum shacks are permitted along the Calangute beach stretch followed by Candolim. The shacks are directed to apply for Consent to Establish before erecting and subsequently obtain Consent to Operate from the Goa State Pollution Control Board under the Water Act and Air Act while also making adequate arrangements for safe disposal of solid waste and sewage besides ensuring fire safety measures.
The State has already completed two months of tourist season and is heading for peak season, with no allotment of shacks made so far.
