THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: In an interesting development in the Laamani taxi row, the hotel which had issued the letter to Vasu Laamani to ply his tourist taxi outside the hotel premises, has withdrawn the letter on Thursday, even as all eyes are focused on the special meeting of the Benaulim panchayat on Friday on this sensitive issue.
Benaulim Panch member Remy Fernandes informed that the hotel has revoked the letter and the same will be produced before the Benaulim panchayat meeting on Friday so that a request goes to the Transport department to withdraw the permit issued to Vasu.
Incidentally, Remy informed that the hotel had issued the letter to a woman which was apparently used to seek permit from the RTO.
Leader of the Tourist Taxi operators Roque Fernandes informed that a delegation of the Benaulim tourist taxi operators will attend the special meeting of the Benaulim panchayat which will discuss the tourist taxi permit issue given by the transport department to a laamani.
“We had adopted certain resolutions at the gram sabha held on December 19. We will insist that the Benaulim panchayat takes cognizance of the sentiments of the tourist taxi operators and the people of Benaulim and accordingly protect the interests of the local people,” said Roque.
The issue over the tourist taxi permit issued to Laamani had taken the village by storm over the last few days, with the taxi operators shutting down all the stalls operated by migrants in the village.
In fact, the Laamani stalls remained closed for the fourth day on Thursday, with the tourist taxi operators warning that the stalls will not reopen unless and until the authorities withdrawn the tourist taxi permit issued to Vasu Laamani.
