VASCO
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Councillor Yatin Kamurlekar was also present and a news conference was convened for the second time in two days.
Kamurlekar said the members are taking a precautionary measure by protesting, as they were kept in the dark and all the legislators of Mormugao taluka and South Goa MP Narendra Savaikar, who heads the visiting committee of the airport, were not aware of the counter allotted to car rentals.
"Savaikar had called the AAI director and has assured to speak to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and we have full faith that the government will not allow this counter," said Kamurlekar.
Adv Herculano Dourado said people had gathered in large numbers to show the authorities how many families are dependent on taxis. "Major business like mining, barges and trucks have collapsed and there are people who have been in taxi business for 3 generations," he said.
"Car rental is not there under any clause of Motor Vehicles Act and though we are willing to pay, we have not been allotted counters," said Dourado.
Another member Prasad Prabhugaonker said: "We are kept in the dark including the legislators. We are facing several issues and parking issue is the biggest. Several old taxi drivers have to walk about 500 mtrs to get their cars here and sometimes tourists also walk along. We have provided great service despite issues and never revolted."
The Black Yellow Taxi Association president Sanjay Naik said: "AAI has bypassed us and sidelined Goans and Goa government and though members are planning a strike, we don't want law and order situation during tourist season. We met all the MLAs of Mormugao taluka and all have assured to raise the issue with the chief minister."
