PANAJI
Representatives of the North and South All Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association met the CM at his residence on Tuesday to discuss their situation. Speaking to media persons after the hour-long meeting, Parsekar said, “Theirs is a genuine demand especially against the private cars and bikes because of which I have directed the RTO to take action against these operators and simultaneously have formed a 12-member team to find a solution to the issues.” The 12-member team will comprise of six MLAs including Michael Lobo, Caitu D Silva, Glenn Ticlo, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and Dayanand Mandrekar along with North and South SPs, North and South Collectors and transport director. According to Parsekar, the team will meet occasionally and within 4 weeks come out with a solution with recommendations from each side. Based on the consolidated recommendations, the CM will then meet four representatives from each of the taxi associations and finalise a plan. The effect of the strike according to the ministers was severely felt on the tourism industry from ticket prices to the general outlook among tourists. “Taxis form a major role in the tourism industry and with them shutting shop; tourists are hesitant to come to the state itself. We have good hotels but with no transport to reach them, tourists are staying away,” said Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar. He also said there was a need to resolve the issue as the matter concerned Goans and their livelihoods. Acting as a mediator between the government and the taxi operators, MLA Lobo said Goa would have to recover from the current situation of tourists backing out saying they should not leave the State with bad memories. Though the meeting had ended with the leaders of the Associations agreeing to call off the strike, drivers who were gathered outside the CM s residence protested against the decision calling for the continuation of the strike. But a discussion with the leaders later at Azad Maidan led to a total agreement in calling off the strike.
