Goa not to disturb turtle nesting sites along its coast

Panaji, Oct 16 (UNI) In line with its spirit of preserving fragile marine ecology, the Goa government has decided not to disturb sites known for annual nesting of sea turtles along its coastline while allotting shacks this season.

Disclosing this media persons here today, Tourism Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza said Morjim beachfront in North Goa which had been attracting turtles for nesting, would be continued to be free of shacks.

But only a minimum number of shacks would be allowed to be run along the Gatilbag beach in South Goa's Canacona area, where nesting activity was lesser, he added.

Meanwhile, the government had maintained status quo on the license fee it would collect from shacks this season in deference to the representations from the people not to raise the fee.

The tourism department would collect Rs 30,000 annual license fee from A category shacks and Rs 20,000 from the B category. There are 242 shacks, 88 of them in North Goa and the rest in the South Goa, the Minister informed.

Seventy five per cent of the shacks would be alloted on draw basis among traditional owners and the rest for new comers. The applications had already been sold out to the prospective owners.

The Cainet had also ratified the decision in this regard today, he added.

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