MAPUSA
Short of asking for the scrapping of GoaMiles, Ports Minister Michael Lobo said the burning taxi issue can be resolved only if the transport department is allowed to handle it.
“Show me if the transport department has come out with a notification of engaging GoaMiles. The issue is about the transport department, not tourism. How can somebody give a transport counter to the tourism department? Nearly 50 per cent of the problem will be solved once the transport department is allowed to deal with the matter,” Lobo said.
The Ports Minister was speaking to the media along the sidelines of a function at the Babreshwar Temple in Calangute. Calangute Sarpanch Dinesh Simepurshkar and other panchayat members and temple committee members were also present.
Continuing, Lobo said the tourism department has made a back-door entry by engaging the app-based aggregate which has to be stopped and only allow one department to handle it.
He said the government should support the self-employed local taxi owners who have come up on their own strength and resolve the issue at the earliest.
“We are with the local taxi owners. At the moment they are fighting...FIRs are being filed against our taxi owners. Total injustice is being done to them. The government cannot remain mere spectators to this,” he said.
He further said all taxi owners have to install meters as per the direction of the high court.
“The government should ensure that no injustice is done to the taxi owners. They must get the same rate as they are getting today when the meters are installed,” Lobo said.
He said he was the only person who took up the issue of the taxi owners with the government from day one and wasn’t bothered about a few of those who blamed him for the mess.
