Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 29: Following the new shack policy that was revised a couple of years ago, the issuance of beach shack license has been delayed this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Usually, by the end of September, the process of issuing a license is completed.

John Lobo, the general secretary of shack owners welfare society (SOWS) said that they were expecting the license issuance to be completed by Tourism Day which falls on September 27 but it has been delayed.

Menino D'Souza, tourism director said that the license will be issued most probably by mid-October.

Speaking on the unusual monsoon this year, the tourism director said, "It is still raining and the process of beaches recovering after the monsoon erosion is yet to start. Once the beaches recover, then we can allot the shack plots. Also, many shack owners want to delay opening their shacks."

As per the SOWS, many of the shack owners in Calangute_Candolim tourist belt do not want to start their shacks as foreign tourists are least expected.

D'Souza said that many shack owners want to wait before renewing their licences given the situation.