Team Herald
PANJIM: Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar expressed helplessness on the demand to increase the number of shacks along the beach belt, stating that the government has to abide by Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules imposed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
The minister, however, assured shack operators that he would seek Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s intervention in the matter, thereby allowing more shacks and immediate clearances under CRZ.
Members of Shack Owners Welfare Society with President Cruz Cardozo and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo met Parulekar on Friday evening with their charter of demands, which included increase in number of shacks, rationalization of licence fees, chemical toilet facilities along with proper water and electricity connections, increase in number of beach beds and advance permission for erection of shacks.
Responding positively, Parulekar said that a special meeting has been called next week, chaired by the Chief Minister and to be attended by MLAs from coastal belts, to discuss the problems faced by the shack operators, ahead of the tourism season. “I will place all the demands before the Chief Minister and I assure that a majority of the issues will be resolved,” he said.
Parulekar expressed the department’s desire to grant more shack licences in the beach belts of Calangute, Mandrem, Morjim, but stated that it is not permissible under CRZ. “The department (environment) does not grant clearances,” he said.
The minister said he would consider rationalizing the licence fees, which increases by Rs 5000 every year as per the government policy. Parulekar also said that the department along with its appointed consultant will be soon taking a final decision on installation of chemical toilets in the beach belt.
“Once the decision is taken, the toilets will be installed before the coming tourism season,” he assured.
The shack operators also brought to the notice of the minister the delay in granting the shack license by the Tourism department, further delaying the necessary permissions required form other authorities like Goa state pollution control Board.
They demanded that the government provide 15 beach beds free of cost instead of 10 from this season, along with proper waste management facility.
