TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: While 960 applicants will battle it out for the 350 beach shacks to be allotted for the ensuing tourism season, another battle is brewing between Traditional Goan Shack Operators Association and the government over allotment based on experience criteria.
Last week the TGSOA had served a legal notice to the government warning it of filing a writ in the High Court if it failed to revert to the allotment formula based on 90:10 without categorisation.
The Association sprung a surprise on Thursday by moving the High Court a day after the process for submitting applications concluded demanding a stay on the allotment process.
The Association in its writ plea filed by Manuel Cardozo, the President, and four other members have submitted that the allotment process since 2009 has been based on reservation of 90 per cent shacks for all those having experience of one year or more and 10 per cent shacks should be reserved for new comers.
They have challenged the Shack Policy 2013-16 which seeks to allot 90 per cent shacks for shack owners with experience of over three years and 10 per cent for those having less than three years experience and new comers.
The Association had earlier opposed the Cabinet approved Shack Policy 2013-16 which was based on allotment with 60:20:10:10 pattern after which the government changed it to 90:10 pattern.
The writ also challenges the change of the three years validity period of the licenses, policy’s silence on several issues such as draw of lots, space allotment on beaches etc.
The rival Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) Thursday expressed ignorance about the writ plea filed by TGSOA and maintained that they would also approach the Court if there was any change in the Cabinet approved Shack Policy 2013-16.
On Wednesday, Sept 25 ~ the last date for submission of applications for shacks, 960 applications were reportedly received.
The Tourism Department anticipates a delay in the allotment process with a writ petition before the Court, even as they were hoping to wind up the process by mid-October in time for the tourism season.
Only Wednesday, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said that the government had taken legal opinion on the allotment process based on 90:10 and shack operators would stand to lose if they moved the Court against the policy.
