PANAJI
The Tourism Department has ordered the closure of 23 beach shacks and revoked the licenses of operators caught sub-letting, as part of a crackdown on violations of the shack policy.
The department spokesperson said the officials launched an inspection drive after reports of illegal subletting surfaced with a total of 110 show cause notices issued. The hearings have concluded in 54 cases.
While 31 cases were dropped, 23 operators -- six of whom were non-Goans -- were found to be in breach of regulations and ordered to shut down.
Officials found that payments for food and drinks were being processed under names that did not match the original license holders. In some cases, GST registrations were missing and deck beds did not have the required license numbers.
"In the wake of allegations regarding subletting, the government had formulated the Goa Shack Policy 2023-26, well in advance before the tourist season commenced. It was done so after extensive consultation with stakeholders including shack operators and concerned associations to uphold transparency and fairness in the process," reads a statement issued by the department on Thursday evening.
As a result, the Department revoked the licenses of those found guilty and ordered them to vacate their shacks within 15 days. Security deposits have also been forfeited.
"The Department issued an order terminating the shack license allotted to the concerned operators, directing the immediate cessation of all activities conducted by the allottee under the Goa State Shack Policy 2023-2026, forfeiting the security deposit submitted by the allottee to the Government Treasury, and instructing the allottee to remove the shack within 15 days from the date of the order," it elaborated.
The Department said all operators were given personal hearings before decisions. Officials maintained that the crackdown is to ensure a fair and transparent system for shack operators while preserving the tourism industry.
