TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Days after the shack policy has been effected for 2013-16, the Tourism Department has axed the first offending shack allottee for alleged misrepresentation of facts and gross violations which has resulted in action which includes forfeiting all fees and deposits in addition to demolition of the shack at Calangute.
According to senior officials from the tourism ministry, the shack allottee, one Harishchandra Parulekar had been allocated a shack at Sauntawaddo in Calangute after misrepresenting facts to the department during the application process.
Parulekar who is already a businessman according to the department was not eligible for a shack as he was already in possession of licenses to operate a bar and restaurant and a garment store.
He was issued a show cause notice last month and after a series of hearings, the Tourism Department has issued orders for demolition of the shack and forfeiting of all deposits and fees already deposited during the application process. The order issued by the Tourism Department states that there has been violation of Clause 2 of the Tourism Beach Shack Policy for erection of a beach shack and thus is a fit case for stern action as per the provisions of the rules.
The complainant, one Advocate Oliveira, furnished documents to prove that Parulekar was not eligible for a shack licence and also furnished all other licenses which proved that the shack allottee was a businessman and not eligible for a shack licence.
“This is the first case which was brought to our notice and we have taken prompt action after conducting hearings and scrutinizing all relevant documents,” said a senior official in the Tourism Department.
This official said that there are at least six or seven more complaints against shack allottees for various other reasons which will be heard within the next two or three days.
“Action will be taken accordingly if violations are found,” the official said. He also pointed out that there are clear indications of violation of the shack policy and attempts being made to sub-let shacks.
“We will not permit sub-letting and even foreign nationals having business visas will not be allowed to take on a shack through the process of sub-letting,” the official said.
