Goa's private beach shacks can continue to operate during monsoon: Union MoEF

Panaji: Beach shacks located in private properties across Goa’s coastline will not have to dismantle their structure during monsoon season. As per a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), on April 25, beach shacks in private lands can continue with their structures in monsoon but they will be banned from operating (doing business) from June to August, when the Arabian Sea is rough. These structures shall not be removed or dismantled from June to August, as was the practise in the past, said the notification issued by MoEF Joint Secretary Bishwanath Sinha. [caption id=“attachment_2754148” align=“alignleft” width=“390”]  Reuters.[/caption] However, the MoEF added a rider saying, “the facilities provided in these structures shall remain non-operational from June to August”. The decision will give relief to 2,000-odd beach shack owners, who had approached the BJP-led Goa government demanding that they should be allowed to continue with the shelters during monsoon that are in private properties. BJP legislator from Calangute, Michael Lobo had taken up the issue with Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. As per the notification, MoEF, while permitting the beach shacks in private properties to continue, has amended the Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ) notification 2011.