New shack policy from 2013: Parulekar
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CALANGUTE: Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has stated that the State government has decided to implement the new shack policy from the 2013 tourist season.
Speaking to Herald, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the government was initially in favour of having a new shack policy this year, but decided to defer it to next year considering various aspects and in the interest of the stakeholders.
“Shacks will be uniform with international standards and fully equipped with sanitation facilities, etc. The coastal belt will no longer see shacks of wooden material, but good quality structures,” he said.
“Bio-digester toilets will also be used all along the coast,” added Parulekar.
When asked about financial burden on shack owners for the new structures, he said it was precisely the reason that the shacks policy has been deferred to the next tourist season to give sufficient time to shack owners to dispose off their existing material.
“In future, the shacks will be uniform one with kitchen, toilets, etc. The shack owners will not be allowed to sub-let shacks once he/she wins the draw of lots. Shacks are meant to provide employment opportunities to locals and the government would like locals to benefit from the business,” he said.
“The government also wants allotment of shacks for a minimum of three years taking into account the financial burden, etc. We will take a final decision by taking everyone into confidence,” added Parulekar.
Commenting on water sports activities, the minister said: “GTDC wanted to bring some sort of discipline in water sports activities, which was, however, misinterpreted by a few people.”
“GTDC had intentions to tie-up with water sports organisers so that uniform rates could be levied on tourists and others. The zoning was also a major issue which could have been controlled through GTDC queue system and perhaps make it accident free, but there were objections to it,” stated Parulekar.