Panaji : The President of Goa Forward Party Vijai Sardesai has expressed strong objection to the demand of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) from shack operators from South Goa for shacks erected in the port limits.
Sardesai said that “the Ill-conceived Major Port Authorities Act 2021 by the central govt usurps the sanctity and authority of the state govt and makes laws in Goa redundant. This is nothing but harassment which will further accelerate the collapse of the state economy”.
Last year MPT officials had visited Arossim beach and asked one of the shack operators to obtain an NOC from MPT for erecting a shack in the port limits as per the Major Ports Act and the Land Policy and Rules.
“Government should not complicate the process, on the contrary, it should ease it to promote tourism in Goa. If the decision of MPT becomes supreme, then in the future, every Goemkar will face hardships to start a shack business in port limits.
It may be recalled that in the past as per the Beach Shacks Policy, the tourism department on behalf of all the shack operators used to obtain permissions from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for erection of shacks on the beaches. “Govt should tell us whether the Goa Govt has conceded all their rights to MPT to decide over the erection of shacks. The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should come clear over this issue and stop harassing Goemkars over their right to start a legitimate business.” Sardesai said.
Sardesai urged the government to clear this confusion as soon as possible as the tourism season has already started and any further delay will make Goan shack owners suffer heavy losses.
