In 2013, their cozy symbiotic relationship on the beach with nature received a reality jolt when the new elephant in the room, the National Green Tribunal asked shacks to obtain consent to operate from the Pollution Control Board. This brought in a more organised monitoring system to ensure that the very piece of nature which brings tourists to Goa and also sustains the business of shacks doesn’t lose itself.
But the shacks chose not to notice this new elephant, wishing that it would go away. It didn’t stop at that. According to the pollution control board, beach shacks continued to violate some of the basic requirements, which were conditional to their functioning. And while the NGT order put legal seal against these activities, their standards of cleanliness and hygiene are extremely below par. The Pollution Control Board too was extremely lenient, letting things simmer and pass and not really come down on these shacks like a ton of bricks.
Therefore these shacks continued to function during the 2013 tourism season post National Green Tribunal (NGT) order declaring operation of all small and micro units including eateries, shacks and hotels as “illegal” if they had not obtained Consent to Operate under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
“Since 2013, these shacks are running without consent, illegally. Prior to NGT order, shacks need not require consent from the Pollution Control Board. But NGT observed that the operation of shacks leads to sewage and waste water discharge along the coast, leading to sea water pollution,” GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha said.
A total of 337 shacks were given permissions by Tourism Department since 2013, for a period of three years.
However, the State pollution control board was not so stringent in taking action, sensing that traditional shack operators would take time to buy into these directions and directed the shack to apply for necessary consent. The directions were issued in August 2013, two months prior to commencement of tourism season. However, not a single shack operator approached the board, forcing the enforcement authority to issue show cause notices and action in form of closer notices.
The pollution control board even took an initiative and launched a special drive along the coastal belts asking shack operators to apply for consent. But the response was very poor. “For the tourism season 2014-15, we again approached shack operators to apply for consent, not a single application was received,” Noronha said.
Following a crackdown on beach shacks along Majorda and Utorda for CRZ violation, shack operators started approaching board for consent, but not in large numbers, Noronha explained, adding that board was forced to start yet another drive along the beach belts for seeking applications for consent and accordingly nearly 350 applications are received and all are under process.
While the shack operators along North Goa, showed great response, the shack operators from some of the South Goa’s popular beaches –Betalbatim and Benaulim distanced themselves from the entire process. It is likely that they will soon face closure notices from the board.
The Pollution Control Board has to submit a compliance report on consents granted to these shacks before NGT by February 14. Clearly there will be no time or inclination for romance on this Valentine’s Day between South Goa shack operators who have made a beeline to get their Pollution Control Board consents or the Pollution Control Board who has chosen to implement an order of the green tribunal.
