TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Allowing shacks to operate after the season ends in May and not taking action against shack owners for violating shack policies year after year got the tourism department in trouble with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as per its report submitted to the Goa Assembly on Thursday.
The CAG highlighted various violations pertaining to operation of shack and has also censured the tourism department for not regulating and monitoring shacks that are allotted every season.
The CAG pointed that shacks allotted were in excess of the approved number way back in 2007-08. It was also very critical of increasing the number of deck beds and umbrellas permitted to shack operators which it fears is reducing space for recreation of tourists on the beaches of Goa.
It points out that inspections by health officers have noted that many shack operators did not have NOCs in addition to shortcomings in following proper norms as per guidelines of health department.
‘Food was kept in the open, water served for drinking without filtration, no proper toilets and no proper collection of garbage all adding to pollution on the beaches,’ says the CAG report describing it as clear violation of the GCZMA guidelines.
It points out that the GCZMA noted violations of CRZ by 433 shacks between 2007-2011 and the department blacklisted only four shacks.
The CAG has ridiculed the tourism department for its inadequate manpower, absence of monitoring and regulatory mechanisms thereby resulting in irregularities and violations in shack operations.
The CAG has taken note of the tourism department’s proposal for having IRP tourist police and flying squads for monitoring activities of shacks and clamping down on illegalities. The secretary tourism has also informed the CAG of plans to introduce mechanised techniques for cleaning the beaches so that environment impact due to garbage will be reduced.
