CANACONA
Demanding that the State government reconsider the order on revoking taxi permits if digital meters are not installed, taxi operators in Canacona have asked the government not to insist on installing meters, to withdraw notices on cancelling permits and to allow procedures to renew the permits.
The taxi operators submitted a memorandum to Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes to take up their grievances with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
They claimed that there had been technical issues where vehicles installed with meters did not start after the battery got discharged.
“Our taxis have corroded in our homes as there is no business. Besides, we had to pay for insurance, instalments, permits, etc. and now it's not financially possible to install meters,” said Januario, a taxi operator from Palolem.
“There is no need for cost-based physical meters. Let the government introduce app-based meters as has been done in Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states.”
“If our demands are not met, our one-point election campaign will be to oppose the BJP,” he added.
Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes said the Canacona Taxi Association has about 600 taxi operators.
“These people are facing hardships and I have tried to help them out in the past, but the government has to implement the court order.”
“No government will do injustice to its people and I will place their issues before the chief minister. I have stood by the taxi operators in the past and will support them. I will request the chief minister to take a decision on humanitarian grounds,” said Fernandes.
