TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The government will take a final call on the Shack Policy 2013-16 on Friday, as shack operators lock horns over the allotment system.
While one faction of the Shack Owners Welfare Society is in favour of the Cabinet approved 60:20:10:10 allotment pattern, the Traditional Shack Operators Association are strongly advocating shack allotment on 90:10 pattern.
The argument is that the 60:20:10:10 pattern has been challenged before the apex court and that the government should revert to the previous allotment system of 90:10 which leaves only 10 per cent of the shack allotment for new comers. The 90:10 pattern enables even those operators with one year experience to stand a chance of getting a licence, whereas the 60:20:10:10 system bifurcates the allotments based on the number of years of experience.
In a meeting held Thursday evening, both factions put forth their views to the government.
“A decision will be taken tomorrow (Friday) and the policy will be finalised as there can be no further delay,” said a tourism department official.
“The government has asked the factions to arrive at a consensus,” said the official adding that any delay at this juncture would delay the entire allotment process.
A proposal was also mooted at the meeting for inclusion of the Shack Policy in the Trade Act through amendment and formulation of rules and regulations.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo who was present for the meeting said, “ Once there is a legislation then such conflicting situations can be avoided.”
MV RIVER PRINCESS: The Tourism Department has disclosed that all permissions from the Centre and State have been received for the removal of the remaining debris of the MV River Princess ship wreck which is still lying below the seabed off the Candolim coast.
“Ship breakers M/s Arihant have been asked to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 10 crore,” said a top tourism department official.
According to officials, as soon as the bank guarantee is furnished the matter will be placed before the State Level Monitoring Committee which will accord the final approval for the agency to commence work. A timeframe would be set for the agency to remove the vessel.
Arihant would be given four months to complete the work which is likely to commence October, reports suggest.
