Panaji, Oct 7 (TOI): Despite the department of tourism's promptness this time at issuing permissions for beach shacks, a majority of shack operators have been unable to commence operations as their staff is yet to arrive.

Shack operators usually hire youth from Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Nepal. Considering the delays in receiving permission from the tourism department, shack operators had asked their staff to resume work mid-October.

Now that they have been granted necessary permissions, most do not have the required staff strength to conduct business. On the Baga-Calangute-Candolim beach stretch few shacks have commenced operations, despite all having been issued provisional licenses in September itself.

"We had not anticipated receiving permission this early. Now, we have the permission, but can't start business. All my staff come from Assam and though I have intimated them to return as early as possible, they won't due to the flooding in their state," said Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS), secretary, John Lobo.

Another shack operator said their dependency on staff from outside the state has rendered them helpless. "Locals do not want to work in shacks. They would rather earn their bread and butter by renting out bikes and rooms," he said.

SOWS, president, Cruz Cardozo said that in South Goa, some operators have erected their shacks and even started operations, but some have delayed due to the rains.

In Cavelossim, he said, most operators have set up shacks. "We had meetings with the tourism department requesting them to issue the licenses before the season started. Operators had been intimated about this. They should have summoned their staff earlier than usual, this season," Cardozo said.