While two crucial demands of the private property beach shack operators are met giving them some respite, the four-year-long demand for a separate policy and single window system has not come to any logical consequence so far.

 All Goa Private Property Shack Owners’ Association has been demanding that government fulfill their long pending demand of formulating a Private Beach Shack Policy for a period of five years, and introduce a single window system. Over 500 shacks operating on private property are following guidelines -- that briefly lay down rules for this category -- covered in the Beach Shack Policy 2016-19.

“The guidelines for traditional and private beach shack operators are more or less the same, except for the CRZ among a few other rules. We expect a separate policy of five years, similar to that of the traditional shack operators who get licences valid for a period of three years,” Association President Dharmesh Saglani told Herald.

Last year, the association had warned the government of coming on the streets if State government fails to formulate a separate policy before the onset of 2016-17 tourism season. The aggrieved stakeholders, in a meeting then, had resolved to stand firm on their demands with 40,000-50,000 family members depending on this business.

The association once again raised the matter, this time with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has assured to resolve it at the earliest. “CM has assured to look into the matter,” Saglani said. However, with the tourist season already underway, the policy will now be possible only thereafter for the next season.

So how will the five-year term policy be helpful? Saglani said it would bring continuity in business as a whole. “People (shack operators) will be able to plug investments, plug the staff and the properties well.” he explained.  

Nevertheless, the private shack owners are elated that government has assured CRZ clearance for up to five years. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is instructed to expedite inspection and issuance of permission to the seasonal structures on private properties, which was yet another long pending demand.  

“Until now, private property shack owners had CRZ clearance valid for one year only. It was taxing to all of us because we had to submit all the related documents for renewal every year. The government heeded to this demand assuring validity of CRZ permissions for five years though it will go through annual renewal process. The renewal of permission for this period will not demand documents every year,” Saglani said.

The association members also hailed the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests for the draft amendment to the CRZ notification 2011, last year that gave respite to shack operators from dismantling their structures during the monsoons. This gives the shack operators an advantage to save cost and manpower towards erecting the structures every season, even as the business would compulsorily have to be shut during the rains.