TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo intervened to resolve the electricity connection woes of shack owners, as Calangute Panchayat has expressed its helplessness due to GCZMA order.
According to shack owners, they were unable to obtain NOC from Calangute Panchayat due to GCZMA order revoking the NOCs/permissions granted by the panchayat for temporary huts within CRZ areas. Calangute Panchayat refused to issue NOCs to the shack owners citing the GCZMA order. However, Lobo opined that there is nothing wrong in the GCZMA order and it was meant to safeguard the interest of the locals.
In his attempt to resolve the electricity connection issue of shack owners, Lobo called on assistant engineer K Chandran at Calangute office and requested to release the electricity connections on the basis of renewed Tourism Department Shack Policy documents.
Lobo also requested Chandran to bring down the security deposit to Rs 15,000 and help the locals to carry on with tourist-related business activities at the earliest.
Chandran assured to look into the matter and resolve the issue.
Speaking to Herald, Lobo said, “Calangute Panchayat is misinterpreting the GCZMA order to harass the locals in the tourism trade. The GCZMA has asked the local body to revoke the NOC/licences of 300-odd huts which were being put up by outsiders violating CRZ norms and eating into locals business.”
