Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Despite beach shacks remaining closed during the rainy season, “monsoon shacks” in the form of beach beds with umbrellas, tables and chairs have once again made their presence felt along the Calangute-Baga beach stretch.
Throwing caution to the wind, some operators have erected beach beds with umbrellas, tables and chairs along the stretch by providing bar and restaurant services to the tourists and the concerned authorities appear to be turning a blind eye to these violations.
Manuel Cardozo, President of the Goan Traditional Shack Owners’ Association (TGTSOA), slammed the government for failing to initiate action against those operating under these beach umbrellas along the Calangute-Baga beach stretch and that too during monsoon.
“This has been going on since decades. Few people are illegally operating their private food business under these umbrellas along the beach stretch following the closure of shacks prior to monsoons. The panchayat does not grant permission and licences to carry out such activities after May. Despite this, these people have the licences to serve food and alcohol. I don’t think they are permitted to place tables, chairs and umbrellas along the beach for customers”, Cardozo said.
When Herald brought the issue to the notice of Calangute panch Sudesh Mayekar he feigned ignorance by stating that the panchayat is unaware of such violation. After being informed about this violation, he immediately informed the Tourist Police.
When contacted Saroj Divkar, PSI from the Tourist Police Unit, said that Sudesh had informed them about the violation on Saturday at 2 pm a few minutes after Herald had brought this to his notice.
“We have written to the Tourism Director to carry out a clearance drive. The Assistant Director will be present and we have also asked the panchayat to depute a panch for the drive. We can only report such issues and provide the officials with safety while the drive is being carried out,” PSI Divkar added.
“Earlier, similar clearance drives were carried out but somehow these violators are informed well in advance about the drive and accordingly they cleared their items from the beach. Even the Tourist Police Unit is not informed but these people know and act accordingly,” he added.
Calangute PI Jivba Dalvi said they have briefed the Tourist Department about these illegal activities going on along the Calangute-Baga beach belt.
“The Tourist Department has deployed around eight tourist guards along the Calangute-Candolim-Baga stretch. We have been sending reports to the Tourist Department regarding such activities following which necessary action is taken. During the monsoon, deck-beds, umbrellas, tables and chairs are definitely not allowed on the beaches,” Dalvi added.
The conditions mentioned in the licence issued to these operators will provide the correct picture as to what permissions they had taken, informed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) Member Secretary Ravi Jha.
“The permissions given to these operators will have to be looked into and whether the Tourism Department has allowed them to carry out these activities,” he said.
Dr Antonio Mascarenhas, a former NIO scientist, said that these violations are the main reasons that hamper the beach ecology. He said that the sandy beaches rejuvenate during September to March and regain their original profile.
“Basically during the monsoon a lot of sand erosion takes place and excess human activities interfere with the beach eco-system. It is ecologically unsound to erect beach beds, chairs and tables on the beach as it impedes the natural coastal processes. According to me, the shacks owners should be allowed to erect their structures in December and not in September. So there is ample of time for the beach to return to its original form,” said Mascarenhas, a former GCZMA member.
