PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that there would be no compromise on the demand being made by the striking tourist taxis as it was simply out of his hands to do so.
Speaking to the media at his official residence on Saturday evening, the Chief Minister was at pains to explain that with the six months extension granted to the taxi operators now coming to an end, there would not be any further relaxation.
“I have no power to exempt speed governors… they are talking to people saying that it can be done. If someone thinks that it can be done, let him bring me the opinion of any good advocate. Or show me how in Karnataka or in Delhi or in any other state it has been done,” Parrikar said.
“This is not because Parrikar wants. It is as per the law, and Parrikar does not decide the law. Therefore after 24 February, the law will automatically prevail. Whatever I understand their demand is, therefore cannot be met as per the law,” he added.
He spoke about the notifications issued by the central government which earlier exempted several classes of vehicles and included taxis.
“The first notification on April 15, 2015, on speed governors reads as: ‘Provided further that transport vehicles that are two wheelers, three wheelers, quadricycles, four-wheelers used for the carriage of passengers up to eight (taxis), ambulance, police vehicles and fire brigade’ … were kept out… ‘shall not be required to be fitted with this’,” Parrikar said.
“On May 1, 2017, the above section was omitted in the new notification. That means that the above section was withdrawn,” Parrikar said.
“Now, when it came to light and some taxis said that they were not receiving fitness certificates on a very extreme emergency because they may not have got the device etc, and through speaking to them, at great risk of contempt and breaking the law, the govt permitted them to operate with a provisional fitness for six months. That was an extraordinary temporary measure done to allow them (time) to fit them. That period ends on February 24. That extraordinary action cannot be repeated in the future and from Feb 24 according to the law, a speed governor is a must,” Parrikar said.
Asked what steps his government intended to take especially since now the taxis had decided to continue with their strike, Parrikar said a decision in that regard was yet to be taken.
“What do we have to do? What can I do? What is not allowed as per the law... I’ve come to understand that their demand is that they should not be made to fit their vehicles with speed governors. As it is after 24 February the vehicles will become unfit. On their own they are making their vehicles unfit, that’s all. I’m watching. Sometimes you have to watch,” Parrikar said.
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Oppn leaders flock
to taxi operators
PANAJI: The ongoing strike of tourist taxi owners and drivers from all corners of the state is all set to enter the third day with North Goa Tourist Taxi Association president Laxman “Bappa” Korgaonkar declaring that the strike will continue till the government accepts, in writing, the demands of the taxi operators.
Speaking upon the conclusion of the second day of the indefinite strike at Azad Maidan, Korgaonkar announced, “The strike will continue on Sunday. If the CM feels like resolving the issue, he should come here at Azad Maidan and speak to the whole of Goa. We still give the government time till Monday.”
A host of representatives from various sections of the society, economy and politics visited Azad Maidan to register their support to the cause of the taxi operators.
Korgaonkar informed the crowds that several shack owners, tourist bus owners and some NGOs have supported the strike.
Speaking to the media, All Goa Shack Owners’ Association president Cruz Cardozo said, “If this worsens, it will affect not just the tourist taxi owners and drivers but all of us and it will damage Goa’s standing as a tourist destination. No one will come to Goa. We will wait till Monday or Tuesday and see.”
Congress president Shantaram Naik along with MLAs Luizinho Faleiro and Digambar Kamat addressed the protestors. Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Wilfred D’Sa also met the taxi owners. In addition to these, Caitu Silva, Francisco “Mickky” Pacheco and Shiv Sena’s Jitesh Kamat as well as spokesperson Rakhi Naik expressed solidarity with the demands of the taxi owners.
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Cong prez seeks
appointment
with Parrikar
PANAJI: Congress President Shantaram Naik has sought an appointment with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday noon at his official residence at Altinho in order to discuss the taxi owners’ demands. Naik placed a call to the CM in front of the protesting taxi owners at Azad Maidan on Saturday evening and assured them that Congress will voice their demands before the state government. >> See pg 3
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ALSO ON PG 3 >>
* KTC service to airport hailed,
demand for its continuation
* In Salcete, tourists complain
being stranded for hours
* KTC, GTDC buses aid cruise
tourists on tours
* KTC adds more routes to aid
passengers at Dabolim Airport
* 4,500 taxis have already
fitted speed governors: Parrikar
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