Team Herald

PANJIM: Tourism Department’s deadline to complete all processes for allotment of shacks by September 15 has been extended with demarcation of the temporary structures to begin from Thursday. The Ganesh festival coinciding with the weekend has been attributed to the ‘slight delay’ in carrying out the procedures.

Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar, earlier this month had assured beach shack operators of an expeditious process for allotment of shacks for the tourism season 2018-19 and directed the Department to complete all processes by September 15, 2018.

“The demarcation of shacks will in most probability begin on September 20 as many have proceeded on vacation for the festival. The exercise will be completed in about two days as Tourism Department has formed separate teams for both districts, to ensure no delay,” said an officer. However, there will be a delay of a couple of days even as the department has assured allotment of shacks for 2018-19 in a time-bound manner so that shack operators can set up their units and conduct business in a smooth manner.

All Goa Traditional Shack Owners Association president Cruz Cardozo said the members have no qualms about the slight delay in view of the festival. 

Azgaonkar had also appealed to the shack operators not to violate the law after obtaining the licences. The last season saw 345 licences for shacks, wherein North Goa had 257 shacks and South Goa 88.