Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa government has notified the Tourism Policy for temporary seasonal structures, beach shacks and huts for the tourist season 2019-22, days after formulating the vast plan.
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The policy, alike previous schemes, allows temporary beach structures to be operational only for the period from September 1 to May 31. All structures should thereafter cease its operations by May 31 with instruction to licensees to remove the structure by June 10.
A total of 259 shacks in Northern coastal stretch and 108 in South will be permitted as per the policy.
“Any increase or decrease in the number of shacks in future if any subsequent to the approval of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) shall be updated on the departmental website www.goatourism.gov.in and draw of lots shall be held accordingly. If the number of eligible applicants is more than the number of beach shacks permitted on any particular beach, the selection shall be decided by draw of lots,” the notified policy states.
As per the draw of lots, 90 per cent of the total beach shacks located on government/public beach areas shall be allotted to those applicants having minimum of three years of experience or more in the respective district whereas the remaining 10 per cent of the total beach shacks shall be allotted to other applicants who are having experience of less than three years or without experience, in the respective district.
“The unsuccessful shack applicants shall not erect any beach shack illegally. If done so, the same shall be subject to demolition at his/her own risk and cost and the security deposit submitted by the unsuccessful applicant shall be forfeited to the government treasury and he/she shall be penalised/black listed from applying for shacks for a period of three years without prejudice to action for contempt of Court for violation of High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) Orders from time to time,” it further states.
The policy also mentions that the Tourist Police, the Tourist Wardens, the Supervisors and flying squad shall maintain a strict vigil along the beaches so as to prevent erection of illegal beach shacks/illegal deck beds. Hawkers, masseurs, vagabonds and others such as peddlers and banned substances including drinking on open beaches should not be allowed.
Compulsory installation of portable toilets like bio-digestive toilet, chemical mobile toilet with inbuilt proper sewage collection and disposal facility, fire prevention measures, etc are also some conditions to the allottees.
“The toilet waste shall not be let out on beach area. The officials of the Tourism Department, State Pollution Control Board and GCZMA shall verify if this criterion is adopted by the shack allottee and only then issue the license. Toilets/lavatories without portable attached collection and disposal units will not be permitted under any circumstances. The service provider for such portable toilets has to be approved by the Goa State Pollution Control Board. No septic tanks, soak pits or open draining of toilet waste in the ground shall be permitted at any cost. Penalty for installing any soak pit, open draining of sewage and toilet waste in to the sand on the beach shall lead to cancellation of the permission and further may also lead to debarring the shack allottee for further period,” reads an extract of the policy.
The policy has also laid down terms and conditions for registration of temporary beach shacks and temporary huts in private properties. These structures have to be registered under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 and should have valid permissions/NOC from the village panchayat or municipal councils/local self-governments.
