HERALD: There are allegations that shack owners are neither responsible nor disciplined which leads to illegal extension of shacks and dumping of garbage despite beach cleaning agencies being appointed. What do you have to say?
Cardozo: This is the normal blame game that is being played. The contractors are appointed to collect garbage; but is the tourism department really doing a follow up on whether the garbage is being collected on daily basis or not? If the garbage is collected on a daily basis then where will there be garbage left to be dumped? Tourism department must also check if the registers are signed by the shack owners every day after the garbage is collected, if the register is not signed that means that the garbage collection is not done.
Since garbage is a major issue in Goa, we insist that appropriate action be taken against the garbage collectors, which can be even up the extent of terminating his license. Regarding the extensions of shacks, inspections are regularly being conducted and if any such case is found they are free to take action after following the principle of natural justice.
HERALD: There are allegations also that shack owners do not segregate garbage making it difficult for beach cleaning contractors during collection?
Cardozo: T If garbage is collected regularly then it will not be difficult as we segregate garbage daily. As I have already stated, a problem arises only when the collection is not done on daily basis. I have already brought this fact to the notice of director of tourism but we are awaiting action. Another fact which cannot be denied is that the garbage collector is operating with only one vehicle to collect garbage for all of south Goa. It looks as if the department has appointed a superman to collect garbage who seems to be doing something incredible.
HERALD: Are shack operators properly abiding by conditions laid down in the shack policy? What is the problem you are facing with Tourism department?
Cardozo: TFirst and foremost, I would like to say that the policy has been framed without taking us into consideration so there are many conditions in the policy which do not favour us. As per the shack policy 2013-16 we are supposed to pay renewal fees before September 15, 2014 which was done by all the shack owners. Actually we were supposed to receive renewal licenses soon after the payment is done but it took almost two months to get renewal licenses, after which we have to apply for more than 10 licenses. As a result of the delay, till date we have not received some of the licenses.
HERALD: Tourism department, as well as contractors, allege that garbage is dumped around the shacks and beaches while some shack operators are caught red-handed doing this act?
Cardozo: T I would like to inform that there are other players apart from beach shack owners like the five star hotels. Who is collecting their waste? They don’t even have any waste management plant so how can they say that it is only the shack owners dirtying the beaches, or is it that we are present in every situation by default? If anyone is caught doing so then prove and take appropriate action. I promise to support the department to take the defaulter to task.
HERALD: Has your strike against harassment by the tourism officials and delay in granting licenses yielded any results?
Cardozo: T Yes, our efforts have yielded fruit as licenses of some 11 shack operators in Majorda and Utorda, which were held back without any reason have been re-issued to them. We, shack owners are being harassed. If you check past history, like the very recent in October, we had to resort to a strike to get our licenses.
