MAPUSA
The battle between local taxi-owners and migrant taxi drivers reverberated at the Candolim gram sabha on Sunday with the former demanding that panchayat revoke permissions given to migrants to operate taxis in hotels.
“The panchayat should immediately revoke permissions given to hotels for offering to park taxis operated by migrant taxi drivers,” a local taxi operator said.
The chairman of the gram sabha, Fermino Fernandes said that the panchayat will have to follow procedures by first issuing show cause notices if there were any irregularities.
The local taxi owners who were unhappy with the response refused to budge until they got an assurance from the panchayat.
Unable to convince the local taxi owners the panchayat members left the meeting leaving the secretary at the mercy of the taxi owners.
The taxi owners continued to argue with the panchayat secretary demanding that a resolution be taken to revoke the permissions.
Fearing a law and order situation, police personnel intervened to diffuse the situation.
A number of other issues were raised and resolutions were also passed during the gram sabha meeting.
The gram sabha resolved to oppose the CRZ notification.
The locals also resolved to oppose the resort coming up next to the Assonora water treatment plant as it was feared that it would affect the quality of water supplied to Candolim village.
The villagers also resolved not to issue any permission for new high rise constructions in the village until proper infrastructure was in place.
Locals said that many criminal activities like prostitution were taking place in the village but locals were not getting adequate police help.
The villagers passed a resolution proposing a village a police outpost in Candolim.
Some shack owners alleged that the panchayat members favoured migrants over locals.
“We had demanded that access to our shacks be improved but till now nothing has been done,” a shack owner said.
Candolim water sports operators claimed that while they were not being allowed to operate from the Sinquerim jetty, boat owners from Calangute were given NOCs by the Captain of Ports to operate from Sinquerim.
Earlier, Chairman, Fermino Fernandes presented the budget proposals for 2019-20 which were approved by the gram sabha.
