Goa Assembly Passes Bill Regulating Beach Shacks

The Goa legislative assembly has passed a bill regulating temporary and seasonal structures, like beach shacks, on public beaches. The bill, tabled by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, was passed with a majority. It mandates compliance with Coastal Regulation Zone notifications and sets penalties for non-compliance and environmental restoration requirements.

The Goa legislative assembly passed a significant bill aimed at regulating temporary and seasonal structures, notably beach shacks, on public beaches this Wednesday. The Goa Erection of Shacks on Public Beaches Regulation and Control Bill, 2024, introduced by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, received majority support.

Previously, no dedicated statutes covered such structures, although they were allowed under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification. This new bill not only sets specific regulations but also mandates that all necessary permissions under central legislation be secured for each tourist season.

To ensure environmental sustainability, the bill requires that beach shacks be dismantled by June 10 each year to restore the beach to its original state. Penalties for non-compliance include a daily fine of Rs. 5,000 and penalties up to Rs. 3,00,000 for breaches of any law or conditions.