Demarcation of shacks along beaches begins across Goa

PANAJI: The tourism department has begun demarcation of shacks on beaches in South Goa for allottees who have paid their licence fees. It intends to complete the demarcation process at all beaches in both districts within a week.
“We don’t want any delay on our part and will complete the process at the earliest,” a tourism official said. The government had recently announced a 50% reduction in licence fees for shacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Close to 350 shacks are set up every season. Licences issued are though valid for three years, and allottees cannot set up their shacks unless the area is earmarked by the tourism department. The allotment is done once in three years as per the beach shack policy, and the entire process can be held up if anyone approaches a court disputing the allotment process.
While the tourism official said the department intends to complete the demarcation shortly, there may be delays on some beaches due to sand erosion and where the shore is yet to be naturally restored.
With rain activity still on, shack operators are likely to wait for a week before start putting up shacks, as inclement weather could damage the material used.
Pradeep Chodankar, a shack operator from North Goa, said though domestic footfalls have been high, he will begin business in the first week of October and after his area at Arambol is demarcated.
“The Calangute, Candolim and Baga beach stretches receive the highest footfalls. Tourists also visit Morjim and Arambol, but the numbers are lesser. Besides, the rains have not ceased. There’s no point managing an empty shack when the last two seasons were a dud,” said Chodankar.
Though shack operators are apprehensive about the new season due to the pandemic, most will set up their shacks this time around. As it is the third and last year of the validity of their shack licences, most would like to earn some revenue to make up for the losses of the preceding two seasons.
The government is expected to introduce a new shack policy during the next season and fix a validity period of shack licences.