The "shaky" Shacks of Goa : When Goa Tourism Dept had to do one only thing right, but did not!
"Nothing Official about It" Official Shacks. Illegal and Shady "Unofficial" Ones. Tourists and Environment both at their own mercy in Goa.
It’s November the 4th today; and the Shacks which are the masthead of tourism in Goa(which is the biggest and almost sole revenue earner for the state) are yet to start. The 2023-2026 Shack policy was notified very late, and has been riddled with controversies ever since. What a tourist sees today are mushroomed illegal shacks, all along the coast.
Invariably as one queries about Goa, the first images which lands is of the shacks on the various beaches. The Shacks are the masthead of tourism in state, and yet the most neglected aspect of State Government, as well as Tourism department.
Officially, there are only 364 Shacks in Goa. An increase of 5 in North Goa over previous seasons. 259 shacks in North Goa and 105 Shacks in South Goa have been allotted this year. Most of the Shacks in North Goa, the official ones, are situated in major tourist hub of Calangute and Candolim. Almost 200 of them, out of 259.
But, as one walks through any beach in North Goa, Tourists may find multitude of so called “Shacks” everywhere; which are operating illegally in contravention to all State and Local body (Panchayat) laws, on the sole effect of money.
The total number of such illegal shacks could be easily over 2,000 in entire Goa, during peak tourists month, from November to February.
This included the clause to serve “Goan Fish Curry” for every shack. Surprising because, almost all Shacks serve Goan cuisine. But made, good decibel noise for state Government.
For the very fact that, perhaps it is the single biggest job of Goa Tourism Department, to regulate the Shacks, along with State Government; the late announcement of policy with several riders and hence the opposition to it; amplifies the fact that Goa State Government could not do even one thing right for the tourism in the state.
While it continues to go hammer and tongs about Spiritual and Hinterland Tourism; Caravan and Homestay stays (the policies just announced).
Common sense says, before you diversify, it is utmost important to get the most important thing right, which for Goa Tourism are the shacks. But then, in a race, where “Much Wants More”, Common sense is a big casualty.
Let us look at the so called “Official shacks” as notified by the State Government. The fact of matter is apart from few government officials and Shack owners, no one knows which are these “Official Shacks”.
It is not there very surprisingly on the website of Goa Tourism. Tourists both domestic and international have no clue whatsoever, the Shacks which they are entering are rule bound and adhere to local and state laws or not.
Also, Tourists would expect better hygiene and safety on these official shacks; but it is almost a secret for rest of the world.
In a state where, the whole town is painted with G20 posters during the G20 Summit; the state government does not issue, even an official certificate, which can be displayed at these “Official Shacks” to install confidence in the minds and hearts of Tourists; that not everything is hunky dory in the state.
When these Official Shacks themselves break the rules, pollute the environment; what could be the state of other so called “UnOfficial Shacks” is anybody’s guess. and the figures are alarmingly high. Like almost 80% of “Official Shacks” break the rules.
When the Tourism Department of Goa cannot effectively regulate 364 locations (read Shacks); how does it augur well to open up hundreds of Homestay and Hinterland Tourism spots? They had only one job to do effectively, and fail in that miserably.
While there is literally “Nothing Official About It” of Official shacks; the UnOfficial ones or better put, the illegal ones are literally everywhere on the beach.
Built with tacit understanding of the so called land owner, which has implicit and tacit understanding with all the concerned officials of Tourism Dept, Law Enforcement and State Government officials; they do business with impunity, and without any fear.
Run in the garb of “Restaurants”, these unofficial shacks occupy the beach brazenly with Tables and Sunbeds, as if the beach belongs to their respective forefathers. During peak season at high tide, it is almost impossible to walk through the beach.
Since there are so many of them, all along the coast of Goa (The number of UnOfficial Shacks would easily amount to 1,000+ in just North of North Goa); the feasibility of them surviving the season with fixed and running costs, and making some money, without doing anything illegal; is anybody’s guess.
Almost all of these illegal shacks have some or other thing hunky-dory going with them. With money to spare for “protection” and no regulations thus; they make merry from the so called “Side Business”.
The above article states amply the true state of affairs of such illegal shacks in Goa.
With Safety and hygiene a very big concern at these shacks, their sole purpose of existence as a “restaurant” is to peddle their “stuff” brought up from North, Himachal Pradesh. Almost the entire time, the waiters and staff of such illegal shacks could be seen accosting female tourists, in order to lure them. Offering free samples, to get them hooked, so that later on, they can extract a heavy price.
These female tourists, unmindful of their true intentions, more often than not, fall prey and have bitter stories to tell. These stories often go unreported, because every foreigner knows the apathy of Law Enforcement in India and hassles associated with it. Rather than to report the bad instance, they prefer to keep quiet.
These shaky shacks of Goa, almost the entire majority of total shacks in the state are a big safety issue for both domestic and foreigner tourists; but without fail, every season, they come up, by paying money to the “concerned” person.
Where money rules, the law can never rule. And needless to say, the spoils of the riches are shared with everyone, from top to bottom.
Working with illegal power connection, extremely poor hygiene and openly polluting the surrounding and sea, there is no one to put an end to this menace.
One can verify this fact with visiting any of such “shaky” illegal shacks with a couple of friends during non-peak hours, and immediately the waiter or server would arrive, with “offers” : “Do you want anything?” Of Course, they are not asking for more food to be served, after you have already ordered some. The query would be about “Drugs and other psychotropic substances” available a-la-carte.
Time and again, Goa Police and State Government has refused to acknowledge this fact by saying, that Tourists themselves bring such substances for “recreational” purposes. Truth is available in plenty at any of the illegal shacks.
Before embarking on making every Rent-A-Car a Caravan and every home of aboriginal in Goa, a Homestay in the hinterland; Goa Tourism has to put in place proper regulation and control over Shacks; both Official and Un official.
Vying with other foreign tourist destination across the globe and begging for wealthy and responsible tourists to come over to Goa serves no purpose, when the masthead of Tourism, the shacks in Goa are themselves most shaky!