Team Herald
CALANGUTE: With the Tourism Department completing the process of renewing beach shack licences before September 1, upbeat shack owners in the Calangute-Candolim beach belt are optimistic about starting their business by early October.
Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) general secretary John Lobo informed that the Tourism Department which was to demarcate the beach shack areas last week, has decided to skip that process this year. He said, “The shacks were already demarcated last year and the licences were issued for three years. All the shack owners are familiar with their designated spots, so they will be setting up their shacks in the same locations.”
However, even though the shack licences have been renewed, many shack owners face delays in erecting their structures as their staff will not return until next month. “The monsoon is still ongoing, so we have to wait until the end of this month. Some owners who managed to bring their staff back early may begin setting up their shacks after the Ganesh festival. My staff will be back by the end of this month, after which we will start erecting the shack,” he said.
The Calangute-Candolim beach belt is home to approximately 200 beach shacks. However, the Tourism Department has not renewed licences for around 40 shack owners who did not operate last season due to delays in obtaining their licences. Lobo said, “We have requested the Tourism Department to renew their licenses as the issue stemmed from the delay in processing the licences.”
This is the first time that shack licenses have been renewed so early, following demands from beach shack owners. “It is a very welcome development because it gives us time to apply to the various other departments. So far no one has started erecting their shacks in Calangute-Candolim, but some have begun in South Goa. Those who have their staff will start setting up soon,” Lobo said.