PERNEM: The traditional shack owners operating on Keri beach panicked after the Water Resource Department sent a letter to the Tourism department, asking it not to permit operation of shacks on the beach for the coming tourism season till the ongoing work of the sea wall is completed.
This has been decided to prevent tourists from getting hurt or face inconvenience while the construction work is on.
However, this created panic among the shack owners as they said that this shack business is their only source of income on which they survive throughout the year. They also pointed out that erecting sea wall will destroy the entire Keri beach.
They immediately approached the local MLA Jit Arolkar seeking his intervention. The MLA held an onsite joint meeting along with the shack owners and WRD officials. He discussed this issue with them in the presence of the shack owners.
Shack owner Vilas Arolkar asked, “We have already suffered badly due to the Covid pandemic. The last season helped us move out of the crisis to some extent. Now, if we are not allotted the shacks for the coming season, then what are we supposed to do?”
“There are six shacks which operate on the Keri beach. The shack owners have already faced losses during the season and if they are not allowed to operate for this season, then it will hamper them financially. In this regard, I will have a discussion with the authorities concerned and get the issue resolved. I will make sure that they are allotted the shacks and are also include this in this year’s shack policy,” Jit Arolkar, Mandrem MLA said.
