TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CALANGUTE: Associations of shack owners have expressed displeasure over the State government’s three-year shack policy.
Speaking to reporters at a press meet in Parra, Shack Owners Welfare Society Secretary John Lobo was unhappy with a clause stating that ‘if the number of eligible applicants is more than the number of beach shacks permitted on any particular beach, the selection shall be decided by draw of lots.’
“We are absolutely dissatisfied with the draft shack policy for three years as it will be decided on the draw of lots.”
“The draft policy should have been discussed and decided with participation of stakeholders, but this is an arbitrary decision forced on the shack owners.”
“If a genuine shack owner loses on the draw of lot, then he will be without a shack for 3 years which is ridiculous. We have been surviving by making a living out of this trade. The government should have taken us into confidence before formulating a policy,” added Lobo.
Goan Traditional Shack Owners Association President Manuel Cardozo also felt that the government should abide by the High Court ruling while allotting 90% shacks to genuine shack owners with 1-10 years experience, and not categories as suggested by the government, with the remaining 10% allotted to new entrants in the trade.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had asked the coastal MLAs to give suggestions regarding the shack policy.
“I had suggested that shack owners along the Candolim-Calangute belt be given 20 beach beds, besides the additional 10 beds, if found feasible,” he said.
“The unemployed youth who do not run shacks, but deal in deck beds, should also be given permission along with the shack policy and may be allowed 14 deck beds each along the Candolim-Calangute stretch,” added Lobo.
