GCZMA turns down pvt shack owners’ plea to retain structures while applying for renewal of licences

Team Herald

MARGAO: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Friday turned down the request made by the Private Beach Shack Owners Association for allowing them to retain their existing shack structure while applying for renewal of permissions at the same time.

It may be recalled that the Private Shack Owners Association had written to the GCZMA earlier this year requesting the Authority to consider the renewal of licences/permissions for shacks/huts/tents in private properties without insisting on the conditions as were being earlier imposed of having to dismantle the shack.  Incidentally, they had made this request in April 2022 but their appeal was only heard in September, a month before the shacks usually reopen for the season.

In its reply, the GCZMA stated that after discussion and deliberation, it had decided to reject the request made by the association with directions that individual shack owners have to apply afresh on the expiry of the permission granted by the Authority, which was valid for five years.  The Authority added that this case will be treated as new permissions.

It is to be noted that the association has been approaching the GCZMA for the last five years over this issue and had earlier expressed delay at the slow pace at which the Authority takes its decision even though the association sends in their applications in advance.

In a related matter, the GCZMA agreed to approve the extension of the Tourism Department’s shack policy for the year 2022-23 as proposed by the Department of Tourism with the same terms and conditions.

This was in connection to the Tourism Department seeking a NOC from the GCZMA for its modified shack policy for the year 2022-23 for the temporarily erected beach shacks, umbrellas, deck-beds etc. The three-year validity of the beach shack policy ended in May 2022 but the State government recently extended the beach shack policy 2019-2022 for erection of beach shacks for the upcoming 2022-2023 tourism season. As per the policy, 259 shacks in North Goa and 105 shacks in South Goa were permitted on identified beach stretches.