For no fault of theirs, the tourists had to leave the beach stretch even as they protested the government action, with many demanding to know how the shack owners are to be blamed if the authorities have failed to make provision for waste and sewage disposal. “We love Goa and hence we keep coming to the state again and again. It is indeed surprising that when the shack owners pay the fees they are told to stop the operations midway through the season”, remarked an UK national Rosie Waterhouse, adding that the responsibility of making provision for waste disposal and chemical toilets rests with the government authorities.
Many other UK tourists echoed similar sentiments. They said they will reconsider coming to Goa if the tourists are being treated in such a manner. They also raised questions as to how the officials could come and close down the shacks during lunch time.
A tourism official said the department had issued notices to the shack owners on Monday to stop all activities in the shacks in view of the order passed by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. Shack owners, however, claimed that they had received the notices only late Monday evening and were left with no time to implement the order.
The tourism official said the shack owners have been given seven days time to obtain permission from the GCZMA and the Goa State Pollution Control Board to operate the shacks.
A shack owner Malla Monteiro said the tourist department’s action comes at a time when tourism season is going through a rough patch. She feared that tourists will prefer countries in the Far East over Goa if such action is initiated against the beach shacks.
GCZMA Member Secretary Srinet Kothawale had last week directed the Tourism Director to immediately suspend/stop the operation of these shacks erected/ operating on the Majorda-Utorda beach for alleged violation of the CRZ Notification 2011 as well as the tourism policy for erection of temporary seasonal structures, beach shacks, huts and others.
The tourism director was directed to implement the order and file compliance report to the authority on or before January 15.
