An official stated on Sunday that the administration plans to provide licenses for more than 150 shacks on the beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“The concept was developed in response to criticism from tourists who believe that the lovely beaches of the islands are not as vibrant as they expect after sunset”, he said.
“At the moment, tourists are not permitted to go near the sea at night on most of the island’s beaches”, he noted.
Permits will be issued for 20 beach shacks on Havelock Island and 40 shacks on Neil Island, according to Tourism Department director Jatinder Sohal.
Ten beach shacks will be built in Kalapathar, 15 in Elephanta, and five in Sitapur in Havelock. While in Neil, he plans to build 20 shacks on the beaches of Laxmanpur and Bharatpur.
Permits will be issued for ten beach shacks each in Port Blair’s Corbyn’s Cove and Badabalu. Sohal estimates that 40 beach shacks will be built in Middle Andaman, with 15 in Raman Bagaicha, 10 in Cutbert Bay, and 15 in Baludera.
In addition, 25 shacks would be permitted in the Middle Andaman, 15 in Karmatang, Mayabunder, and 10 in Ramnagar, Diglipur.
“Unauthorized hawkers and makeshift shacks have appeared on popular beaches in an uncontrolled manner. This produces a very shabby appearance, detracting from the beauty and ambiance of the magnificent beaches and creating disturbance to guests”, Sohal added.
“It also raises concerns about environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural habitats”, he explained, justifying the decision to grant licenses for beach shacks that will offer food and wine in addition to music.
According to the source, the project will also produce cash and create job possibilities for residents.
He stated that the shacks will be created with local and natural materials such as bamboo, wood, thatch, or even palm fronds and that the rustic look will mix in with the surrounding nature, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the beauty of the beaches.
According to Sohal, such shacks are an essential element of coastal experiences all around the world.
After an inspection by officials from the Tourism Department and the Andaman Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority (ANCZMA), authorization for the beach shacks would be granted.
“If any shack is shown to be using admission discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, sex, caste, or any other factor, the permits would be revoked”, the official added.
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