Herald: What are the issues and demands of the private shack operators?
Dharmesh Saglani: We have been raising some of the important issues with the government, including the private shack policy, for the last four years. During this period, we approached chief minister, ministers and all the coastal legislators with 17 separate memorandums seeking help but all was in vain. Our long pending demand for a private shack policy of five years has fallen in deaf ears. The government often combines us with the beach shack policy although both are way different than each other. Moreover, we have been demanding for single window clearance wherein during the four months of off-season, government can route our files to related departments and at the end, we make the required payment. As many as 16 permissions are mandatory to run the business every year, but permissions are granted during the mid-tourist season. The Tourism Department, which is the final authority for registration, charges us Rs 1500 per AC hut and Rs 750 per non-AC hut in addition to shack fees. The apathy is that for huts we pay to get licence from three different agencies — the local body, tourism department and GCZMA while in fact it should be one department. The licence fees and taxes cost us not less than Rs 3-4 lakh. No authority is understanding our plight. Why can’t the government give us five years of renewable licence?
Herald: Are private shacks operating this season?
DS: Like every year we are still awaiting for licence. The season is almost nearing end… The business is slow and demonetisation has also affected us. When a fixed date of May 31 is mandatory to dismantle a shack, why there is no fixed date to issue all the licences? Moreover, the government should either allow us to build the shack on the private property all through the year and operate during the tourist season, or allow operating 365 days because the revenue will go to the State.
Herald: The Tourism Department is passing the buck on the GCZMA saying it cannot go ahead with registering the shack unless beach carrying capacity report arrives. Who is at fault?
DS: No one is understanding what the private shack operators and 10,000 family members are going through. Government has taken us for granted despite the fact we give revenue to the State exchequer. What infrastructure have they given us? What are the facilities to us? There is no access road, no toilets and no parking. The beaches are also dirty. We pay to various departments such as excise, food & drugs, commercial tax, weights & measures, etc. We pay luxury tax and various taxes.
Herald: What if the government fails to heed to your demands?
DS:We will come on the streets with our family members and staff. It is because of this attitude of the government that many youths have migrated to other places for jobs. If we do not stand for our rights, such issues will continue. We have to come out with a solution… We humbly appeal to help carry out our business as it is giving revenue to the State. Do something for the Niz Goenkar.
