MAPUSA
Stating that the startof tourism season looked grim with the way the Covid cases have beenincreasing, the North Goa rent-a-cab association called on the government toincrease the moratorium for loans at least for another three months, waive offinterest and provide a financial package to them.
The association has also requested the government to waive offthe road tax for a year if possible, as they were left penniless due tounemployment for the last six months.
“We request the chief minister and the remaining 39 MLAs toincrease the moratorium if possible, at least till December. The presentsituation where cases are increasing in Goa, India and globally it looks liketourism is not going to start so soon,” said Nitesh Chodankar, President ofNorth Goa rent-a-cab association.
The North Goa rent-a-cab association President along with themembers of the rent-a-bike and rickshaws in the coastal belt were addressingthe media in Calangute.
Incidentally, the state government had first announced amoratorium on loans for taxi owners in March and later renewed in up tillAugust end.
Continuing, Chodankar said the traffic police were issuingfines for non-payment of road tax which further compounded their problems.
“Since we don’t have money, we cannot pay road tax. Thegovernment should waive off the road tax and provide a financial package to thedrivers who depend on the tourism business,” he said.
A representative of the rent-a-bike, Vishwanath Nagvenkar,informed that they were promised a rebate on road tax but instead, authoritiesfined them for not paying the road tax.
“The government should give us some relaxation on road tax and someflexibility in insurance payment. We have a lot of loans to pay,” Nagvenkarsaid.
He said some owned more than five bikes and others over 10 andall these bikes were parked in the open.
“With no business for the last six months, these bikes have notbeen operated and therefore will develop a lot of corrosion and other startingproblems. We will have to spend money to maintain them,” he said explaining thedifficulty of the rent-a-bike owners.
A rickshaw owner from Calangute said there was no business andthey failed to make enough money for survival.
“We go daily to the stand. But there is no income as there areno customers. We don’t know when the tourism season will start and thereforeappeal to the government to help us,” said Shailesh, a rickshaw owner.
