the goan I network
VASCO
The Niz Goenkar Revolution Front (NGRF) has demanded clarity from the transport department on the distribution of the airport counter Yellow-Black taxi permits, failing which it has threatened to take the matter to court.
NGRF has also said permits should not be given to family members of those already having yellow-black taxi permits, to ensure fair play to everyone to earn a livelihood by plying a taxi at the Airport Counter.
The NGRF has raised concerns after alleging that a number of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) councillors have yellow-black taxi permits and some are now in the fray to seek more permits for their family members in the lucrative trade.
“The primary right on the permits should only be for Niz Goenkar Goans, who are real sons of the soil. We will take the matter to court and seek a stay on the distribution of permits, if clarity is not provided by the transport department within a week,” warned NGRF Spokesperson Chandrashekar Vasta.
“Some people have complained to us while they have been struggling to get the yellow-black taxi permits for years, most of these permits are distributed to people who have high political influence.”
“Sources have also said some MMC councillors, who already have a permit, are already in touch with their MLAs to ask more permits for family members. As a result, a son of the soil will be denied a permit despite struggling with all formalities,” said Vasta.
Stating that these limited permits should only be allotted to unemployed Goans, Vasta said the beneficiaries should be children of people born in Goa before 1961 and not someone with political influence.
“A Goan should be given the first right before politicians begin appeasing migrants with these permits,” said Vasta.
“The transport department should clarify on the allotment of a few hundred permits among the thousands of applicants and the criterion to allot these permits,” he added.
“Some people have already alleged that permits are being traded in lakhs of rupees and some are even boasting that their permit is almost allotted even before the final date.”
“Others even complained that police clearance forms are out of stock while there is a huge queue of youth at the RTO and Mamlatdar office for forms to obtain the permits.”
“This is employment opportunity for youth and if permits are allotted fraudulently or if the transport department does not come clear in this, we will approach the court to stop the allotment of these permits.”
“Some have informed me that an interview will be held with transport officials on completion of formalities and I want to know how this interview can decide on the needy applicants,” said Vasta.
