Team Herald

PANJIM: Almost a month after the new tourism season commenced, the State Tourism Department on Wednesday allotted 373 beach shacks for a period of three years.  

Tourism Department had received 950 applications for beach shacks. During the lots, 270 shacks were allotted in North Goa while 103 in South. 

Of these, as per the new guidelines following High Court directions, 90 percent of the shacks are given for those with a minimum of three years experience in operating shacks and balance 10 percent are allotted to those with less than three years experience.

In North Goa, majority of shacks are allotted in Calangute, Candolim, Baga, while in South the beaches dominated are Colva, Benaulim and Cavelossim. 

The shack policy mandates that materials used for the temporary structures be eco-friendly but some operators do use other materials, including iron pillars.

Shack operators are looking forward for setting up of shacks by first week of November. 

Goa Beach Shack Owners Association President Cruz Cardozo said that they have demanded with tourism department to demarcate shacks by November 1, so that the facility can be set up by the first week itself. 

“We have already lost one month of the season. We want to start the activity as soon as possible,” he said. 

The shack allotment process was caught in litigation after National Green Tribunal (NGT) stayed implementation of Beach Shack policy pending finalization of coastal zone management plant. The Government and shack operators challenged the order in High Court and got the stay vacated.