Team Herald
CALANGUTE: In a move to regulate beach shacks in the Calangute-Candolim stretch, the Tourism Department has directed all shacks to erect fences around their establishments to prevent encroachment beyond the permitted area, according to stakeholders.
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Over 50 beach shacks, in addition to private beachside restaurants, have received notices in the past few days, instructing them to pay fines of Rs 25,000 each for exceeding their demarcated areas by placing tables and deck beds on the beach, stakeholders reported.
While the move has been welcomed by the Goan Traditional Shack Owners’ Association, its president, Manuel Cardozo, suggested the Tourism Department should have implemented the action gradually.
“The 15-metre area in front of the shacks, where they’re permitted to place tables and deck beds, was not demarcated this year. Suddenly, they came and started marking the area on Monday and by the evening, shack owners received notices demanding Rs 25,000 fine for going beyond the permitted boundary,” Cardozo explained.
Starting Monday, the Tourist Security Force (TSF) also confiscated numerous tables, deck beds and other items placed by shacks beyond the demarcated zone.
“This should have been done much earlier. It’s the first time the Tourism Department has taken this action and it will bring some discipline among the shacks,” Cardozo remarked. “The shacks at the main beach entrance put up 50-100 tables and chairs and played loud music, drawing most tourists. The shacks further down barely get any customers as a result.”
Stakeholders indicated that such encroachment has been driven by private beach shacks and beachside restaurants competing with Tourism Department-licenced shacks, particularly at Umtawaddo, Baga and Candolim.
John Lobo, general secretary of the Shack Owners’ Welfare Society (SOWS), noted that private property owners with restaurants and private shacks on the beach have been placing tables as far as 50-100 metres from their properties to allow guests to sit directly on the sand. “Seeing this, other shacks also started placing tables and deck beds across the beach, obstructing tourists’ free movement,” Lobo said.
However, Lobo pointed out that not all shacks should be held to the same standards. “The beach has become narrower in parts of Candolim and Gauravaddo. Even though shacks remain within the designated 15-metre area, they still end up almost at the waterline. The Tourism Department has been informed of this situation. Shack owners there shouldn’t be blamed. After inspection, the Tourism Department has reduced the allowed area to around 12 metres to ensure tourists have enough space to walk,” he explained.
