Close in the wake of deep, unrest among the mining dependentpost the stalling of mining operations, the government is facing flak from acrucial section of stakeholders of Goa’s second largest industry, mining- theshack owners
The State government’s new shack policy has run into roughweather, with traditional shack owners coming on streets to oppose the policytooth and nail. However, the ChiefMinister has cause for some relief as the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa(TTAG) has fully backed thee policy.(see interview)
“We had high hopesand aspirations when this government came to power. The Chief Minister has letus down,” said Cruz Cardozo, President of Shack Owners Welfare Association.
With almost three hundred and fifty families hit by the newshack policy, the backlash first erupted in the coastal village of Betalbatim.
The shack owners first ran to former Tourism Minister,Mickky Pacheco requesting him to ask the Chief Minister not to implement thenew policy.
The Shack Owners Welfare Association led by Cruz Cardozo hasreposed faith in Mickky, who was criticized for bringing Drishti to man Goa’sbeaches and to use lottery system for shack allotment when he was a tourismminister.
The breakaway Traditional Shack Owners Association inCalangute led by Isidore Mendes and the rival Shack Owners Association based inBenaulim and led by Manuel Cardozo has also joined hands with Cruz to opposethe government’s shack policy.
“If the government wants installation of CCTVs then theyshould provide the cameras. I can’t understand the new policy that tells theshack owner to download a form for free but pay a fee while submitting it,”said Cavelossim Sarpanch, Edwin Barreto who has earned accolades for managingCavelossim’s tourism boom with zero garbage complaints.
The shack policy has stringent norms like beach beds withinthree meters, need of shack owners to be present in the shacks, expensivechemical toilets etc. These norms are to just cancel our licences and bringoutsiders to run shacks. All this will only lead to more illegalities,”explained Cruz.
The shack owners are upset because Parrikar promised themten year license validity and most importantly a policy only after deliberationwith his coastal ministers -- Ramesh Tawadkar, Laxmikant Parsekar, AlinaSaldanha and Dayanand Mandrekar and MLAs -- Michael Lobo, Mickky Pacheco, CaituSilva and Carlos Almeida.
Former MLA and renowned lawyer Radharao Gracias asserted:“Who knows how the CCTV footage will be used or misused. Tourism Departmentwants to put CCTV cameras on all the beaches which are a breach of privacy. Godknows who will zoom and misuse footage of women on a beach. Even camera’s inthe shack and kitchens of the shack is absurd.”
While Tawadkar assures shack owners that he will raise theirconcerns at a cabinet meeting, Mickky convinces the affected Shack owners thathe will convince Parrikar to continue with last year’s policy, at least forthis year.
Michael has got Parrikar to physically inspect Calangutebeach and Caitu had arranged a meeting with Parrikar and the shack owners bodyat Ravindra Bhavan last Sunday.
