PANJIM: The shack operators mostly from coastal belt of North Goa met Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and requested him not to suspend the licences of shack owners who have been issued show cause notices for entrenching soak pits on beaches following directives by the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
The department of Tourism has issued show cause notices to as many as 58 shack operators – 40 in Calangute and 16 in Candolim Fort various violations including illegal construction of borewells, ringwells and soak pits on beaches. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo also accompanied them.
During the meeting, the Minister told them to strictly adhere to the rules prescribed in the shack policy and not to indulge in illegalities. A delegation of shack operators also met Advocate general Devidas Pangam ahead of hearing before the High Court scheduled on February 22. Besides Lobo, Shack Owners Welfare Society President Cruz Cardozo and general secretary John Lobo were also present.
The shack operators said that most of them have now complied with the High Court directives and urged the department not to suspended their licenses.
During the last hearing, the Water Resources Department (WRD) ground water officer (North) had submitted its report stating that it had sealed five illegal ringwells and borewells each at Candolim beach while, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) survey is likely to submit its report on Wednesday, regarding the illegal soak pits built at Candolim beach.
