MARGAO
Asserting that tourist taxi operators and the shack owners constituted the Bhumiputras of Goa, NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao on Friday urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to provide free meters to the tourist taxis in the state and to restore the license of the operators.
Saying that the Chief Minister had promised the tourist taxi operators that government would provide free meters, Churchill exuded confidence that the Chief Minister will not only honour his word, but would restore the taxi permits of the bhumiputras.
Addressing the media, the Benaulim MLA said the tourism stakeholders such as the tourist taxi operators and the shack owners constitute the bhumiputras of Goa, saying these two tourism related businesses are being run and operated by Goans.
Taking up cudgels for the beleaguered tourist taxi operators on the issue of meters and cancellation of their permits, Churchill said unlike other tourism stake holders, the tourist taxi operators eke a livelihood on plying their taxis from the starred hotels. “I and Minister Michael Lobo are witness to the promise made by the Chief Minister to provide free meters to the tourist taxis. My humble plea to the Chief Minister to provide the meters free of cost as the operators have been facing difficulty in making two ends meet in times of Covid pandemic”, he said.
Defending the tourist taxi operators against the backdrop of allegations of overcharging by the operators, the Benaulim MLA explained that tourist taxi operators are operating from outside the starred hotels as per the tariff fixed by the respective hotels. “My colleagues in the Legislative Assembly do not understand one fact that the tourist taxi operators do not take the business of local residents. They only ply from the hotels and are operating as per the tariff fixed by the hotels”, he said.
Churchill pointed out that many a Goan tourist taxi operator has already left the state to start a new life in the UK, warning that the bhumiputras will also follow suit if their interests are not protected by the government.
Saying the government has no right to cancel the licenses and permits of the tourist taxi operators, Churchill demanded to know whether Goa belongs to the bhumiputras or outsiders.
Churchill in support
of bypass on stilts
MARGAO: Churchill Alemao said he is in support of the western bypass on stilts, but said his plea to the state and central government on the issue have not borne fruit till date.
Saying the project was passed during the tenure of ex-MLA Caitu Silva, Churchill the former MLA should have fought with the government in support of the demand for bypass on stilts/. “I had even taken up the matter with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, but the centre has turned down the plea on grounds the bypass on stilts cost would run into hundreds of crores”, he said.
Saying that he had got the river Sal de-silted to take care of flooding, Churchill said he would pursue the demand for bypass on stilts with the government.
