Panaji (Goa): Out of 98 percent provisional shack licenses alloted so far, less than 50 percent shack operators have been able to complete constructing the temporary structures along the coastline.
The tourist season is here and the slow paced work is attributed to rains even as the monsoon season ended in September-end.
After consistent demand from the shack operators, the Tourism Department ensured early issuance of provisional license so that the seasonal huts are erected in-time this year. But continous rains in the past few days has played a spoilsport.
“All those who applied for renewal of license were granted provisional license to start erecting the shacks, last month. This was way ahead of the tourism season that commenced on October 1 but it has been raining for past some days. The weather has affected early shack business,” All Goa Traditional Shack Owners Association President Cruz Cardozo rued.
He however conceded that none can fight the natural calamities. “It’s a wait and watch for us now. Once weather is clear, the setting up of shacks will begin. As of now less than 50 percent have completed building their shacks,” he added.
Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar had recently assured the shack operators that their businesses won’t be delayed and directed the Tourism Department to begin issuing provisional licenses from September. The shack operators had petitioned the government that till last year, the shack business began over one month after the season commenced. The loss, they complained was due to delay in issuance of license.
With a welcoming change this year, albeit hit by incessant rains, the final NOC for operating the shacks is expected to be issued from next week. Goa has reviewed around 100 inch if rains till September 30.
The lone international airport at Dabolim received the season’s first set of charter tourists from Russia while domestic tourists continue to flow in.
