the goan I network
MARGAO
The Colva gram sabha on Sunday resolved to ask the government to stop the Goa Miles taxi service, saying it threatens to render local youth engaged in the tourist taxi business unemployed.
The gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes has also rejected the power department’s proposal to take over the maintenance of the streetlights.
The meeting has also resolved to revoke the permission granted to the Goa Sewage Development Corporation to build the sewage treatment plant in the village on grounds that discharge of the treated water in the Arabian sea will spell doom for tourism.
The gram sabha adopted the resolution to scrap the Goa Miles service after representatives of the Colva tourist taxi operators drew attention of the Sarpanch to the threat posed by it to the local tourist taxi operators. They pointed out that around 140 local tourist taxis are in operation in Goa, besides rickshaws, tourist buses, and line buses, adding that the introduction of the service has hit the taxi business of local operators.
The tourist taxi operators pointed out that many a local operator has been hit hard by the Goa Miles, leaving them to great hardships even in the repayment of loans.
After much discussion, the Sarpanch assured the tourist taxi operators that the panchayat would send a copy of the resolution to the Tourism Director, Director of Transport, besides local MLA Churchill Alemao to stop the Goa Miles service.
Meanwhile, the gram sabha discussed a host of issues, including solid waste management, the sewage treatment plant and stray dogs.
The Sarpanch informed that the panchayat would soon write to the animal welfare NGO to take up the work of stray dog sterilisation in
the village.
