Blames overflowing garbage for tourism slump, seeks action against coastal panchayats
MAPUSA
Just when the State government was trying to build a consensus on the cab aggregators, coastal BJP MLA Michael Lobo struck a discordant chord, asserting that Goa has no need for outside aggregators.
He also criticised Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, dismissing the minister’s claim that the taxi operators in the State are to blame for the dip in tourism.
“The transport minister should retract his statement blaming taxi operators for the tourism decline,” Lobo said, asserting that the real issue lies is the growing problem of uncleanliness along the coastal belt.
He pointed to garbage being strewn across key tourist areas and criticised coastal panchayats for failing to manage waste collection. “We cannot allow this blame game to continue. Tourism is declining not because of taxi issues, but because basic amenities and cleanliness are being ignored,” the BJP MLA from Calangute said.
Lobo further claimed that Godinho is out of touch with the ground realities and the daily struggles faced by tourism stakeholders.
He insisted that tourists visiting Goa expect a clean environment and efficient governance.
Calling for a resolution to the ongoing debate over taxi aggregators, Lobo said only Chief Minister Pramod Sawant can effectively address the crisis by framing clear, fair policies that also safeguard the interests of local taxi operators.
The remarks come just days after the coastal MLA had advocated for embracing technology in the taxi sector and urged operators to engage in constructive discussions with the government to move forward transparently.
The issue of taxi regulations continues to be a contentious one, with stakeholders divided over the entry of app-based services and the impact on traditional operators.
