Staff Reporter
Panaji
Permissions from the town and country planning (TCP) department and the local village panchayat are no longer required for erection of shacks and temporary structures on public beaches with the state cabinet clearing a related ordinance on Monday.
The cabinet has granted approval to promulgate Goa Erection of Shacks, Temporary Structures on public beaches Regulation and Control Ordinance 2023.
Briefing media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that as per the ordinance, beach shacks and temporary beach structures on public beaches do not need construction permissions from the TCP department and the local village panchayat.
Sawant said the ordinance will be applicable for the existing as well as future structures. He said the requisite permissions for erecting the temporary structures will be granted through the tourism and the environment departments.
“The TCP approval and construction licence from panchayat will not be needed, as the structures are temporary in nature. However, trade-related permissions will be mandatory,” said the Chief Minister.
The ordinance incorporates statutes to govern the erection, control and regulation of the beach shacks and temporary structures erected on beaches as per the beach shack policy, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said.
Stating that the decision to bring the ordinance was arrived at to tackle several problems that had cropped up recently, Sawant said the ordinance will provide relief to the shack owners.
The cabinet also approved a proposal for a 10% hike in the salary of doctors appointed on a regular basis at the GMC’s super specialty block at Bambolim.
The cabinet also granted approval for procurement of 50 new electric buses for the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) under a central scheme. Cabinet clearance was also given for creation and revival of 54 technical enforcement posts in the department of commercial taxes.
Sawant said the amendment to Goa Minor Minerals Concession Rules 1985 was also approved during the cabinet meeting. He said the amendment will help in streamlining and fast-tracking of permissions for the mining of minor minerals such as laterite stones, sand etc.
The cabinet also gave its nod to extend the scheme providing government jobs to children of freedom fighters upto February 28, 2025. Around 30 applications of freedom fighters’ children, who had applied for jobs after expiry of the scheme will be considered after verification of the applications, said Sawant.
The cabinet also decided to transfer 25,000 square metres of land at Merces to the tourism department for setting up of Unity Mall. The Chief Minister said it was also decided at the meet to activate the Swayampurna Board and clear the payment of Gramin Mitras, who run the common service centres across the state.