Panjim, Feb 12: The Director of Tourism, Shri. Ameya Abhyankar, in a statement issued today said, “The Department of Tourism receives more than three to four complaints a day from the IRB posted along the North Goa beach belt and also from South Goa coastal belt of growing number of illegally erected beach shacks and unauthorized deck beds, umbrellas, huts and other material being laid out by shack operators.”
Countering allegations made by shack operators today Shri. Abhyankar said, “There is a Shack Policy in place which clearly specifies the number of deck beds permitted to be put out by shack operators during the season.
It is very clear that not more than 10 pairs are permitted for shacks on public beaches. Additionally if there is any further requirement this can be increased by another 5 pairs at the request of the applicant on a case to case basis depending upon the availability of the space on the beach stretch.
The Department has further constituted two flying squads one each for North Goa and South Goa Districts respectively in order to keep a check on such illegalities. The Flying squads have powers to crack down on any illegalities noticed on the spot by virtue of the standing orders.
Going by the complaint reports from the IRB and site inspections and having confirmed that the shack operators are laying out more number of deck beds than the permissible number thereby causing a nuisance the Department has directed the Flying Squads to take immediate action.
We have also noticed that the deck beds laid out by shack operators are not within 5-10 meters from the outer boundary of the shacks as required under the policy.Yesterday’s action was initiated by the Flying Squads by virtue of the orders where in 2 illegally erected shacks on the Candolim beach stretch and all deck beds in excess of the permissible limits were removed.”
The Dept . of Tourism, Govt. of Goa has strongly defended its move to clear unauthorized deck beds and sun shades along the coastline from Baga to Sinquerim in keeping with provisions of the Shack Policy for 2013-16.
The department is initiating action in pursuance of powers conferred upon the Director of Tourism under section 5, read with section 4 and section 2 (c ) of the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act 2001 and notification number 6/4 (59) 2001 – DT dated November 26, 2001.
The Director has declared illegally unauthorized erected beach shacks , illegally placed deck beds, umbrellas, huts and any such violations as are not permitted by the tourism policy for erection of temporary seasonal structures 2013-16 as nuisance and further prohibits such acts on beach stretches extending from Baga to Sinquerim .
The Director under section 13 of the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act had directed all IRB tourist police, IRB PSIs and in-charge of flying squads to strictly implement his orders to maintain tourist places free form nuisance.
