Team Herald
MARGAO: A meeting was held with all the shack owners of Benaulim Constituency to assess their feedback on the shack policy and steps to boost their tourism and protect the environment.
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At the meeting convened by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, the shack owners from Colva to Cavelossim shared their views on the season ahead and the steps State government is proposing to take in the hope that their concerns are addressed too.
The Tourism Minister is also planning on holding a meeting with all the coastal MLAs soon on the model shack policy.
It may be recalled that the Tourism Department had recently announced that they want to go ahead with the model shack policy wherein the department will construct shacks of the same size and shape instead of leaving this to the shack owners to construct.
However, the shack owners had various apprehensions about this including the fact that this could lead to their displacement from their traditional business.
Cruz Cardozo, president of the Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) said they are waiting to get more information from the government about what the government plan entails.
He said they would be supportive if some ideas are favourable to them but are concerned about the shacks going in the wrong hands where they are left out.
He also added that they also put forth their suggestions on environmental issues too.
The shack owners reiterated their earlier demands of reducing the overall fee structure they have to pay the government for the shacks in view of the financial setback they had suffered in the last three years.
