Coconut shacks on Goa beaches to be better regulated this season

The oncoming tourist season starting from mid-October and to continue till end February has attracted a special policy for the coconut shacks that line up the coastline of Goa catering to the tourists.

These shacks do brisk business by supplying wooden easy chairs, umbrellas, water and even snacks to the tourists on the beach. But this there will be less number of shacks on the beaches.

Only 228 shacks have been proposed to be given licence against 282 last year, with the northern belt getting a share of 144 shacks and the southern belt only 84.

Said sources from the tourism ministry, "The arrangements have been made in view of the cleanliness policy and environment policy and previous record of the shack owners in this regard. While these are essential to service tourists on the beach, at the same time we cannot afford to turn our beaches into dirty zones."

The licence fee has also been hiked this year for the shacks. With the government expecting a full and busy season, and the tourist season coinciding with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the northern belt shacks have been asked to pay Rs 30,000 and the southern belt shacks has been asked to pay Rs 20,000 as against last year's amount of Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively.

Said sources, "Northern belt traditionally gets more influx of tourists. So there has always been this discrepancies. However, this year's hike is not going to harm them at all, because we are already booked fully for the season and after hotels, these shacks makes the most of a busy tourist season.''

These beaches are Calangute, Candolim, Colva, Benalium, Varca, Cavelossim and Majorda. These shacks will have garbage disposal arrangement, mobile toilets and at least one person trained in life saving techniques for which the department will provide necessary training.