Speaking to Herald, Tourism Director Ameya Abhyankar informed that Goa Police have been authorised to inspect all shacks to ensure that terms and conditions of the Tourism Policy 2013 have been complied with.
“CCTVs will have to be installed in shacks by December-end this year. We will receive a confirmation about installation of CCTVs from the shack operators themselves, soon after which the police teams will inspect all shacks along the beach belt to ensure CCTVs are installed and functioning effectively,” he said.
Presently, the department is assisting the shack allottees to identify a service provider with the list from the Info Tech Corporation of Goa still awaited. Abhyankar rubbished opinions that this process would further delay the implementation of the policy, claiming installation of CCTVs will be completed within the stipulated time-frame.
While the process for identifying the service provider is underway, some operators have already begun installing the equipment, buying these from the open market.
The beach shack policy 2013-16 mandates that every shack should have CCTV cameras installed, with government warning of strict action of even suspending shack licences. Out of 337 shacks erected last tourism season, only 38 had installed CCTVs, while several shack owners have opposed the decision of the tourism department.
Before the tourism season began on October 15, the tourism department maintained it would not issue licences to shacks owners unless they had installed CCTVs. The compulsory implementation was however postponed since this was a new demand on shack operators.
