THE GOAN NETWORK
PERNEM
The Green Field Mopa International Airport Taxi Association staged a dharna on February 14 to demand a black and yellow taxi counter at the airport and they later postponed their agitation to demand funds from the government to paint their taxies blue.
Pernem Deputy Collector Dipak Vaingankar had requested the taxi operators to withdraw their dharna outside the Pernem Mamlatdar Office, but they declined to do so.
Vaingankar told them that a high level meeting was taking place at the Secretariat and a positive outcome was expected. He asked the taxi operators to keep the dharna pending till some decision is made public, but they continued their agitation.
Finally at 5.30 pm, Vaingankar told them that their demand had been accepted and blue taxi stand will be given. The demarcation will be done on February 15 by the officers concerned and Traffic Cell regarding space decided by GMR company.
In view of these developments, the convenor Bhaskar Narulkar, Adv Prasad Shahapurkar and Uday Mahale told mediapersons that the agitation was postponed.
Initially, the agitators visited the temple of Goddess Bhagavati to seek her blessings. There was a silent procession on the streets. There were no slogans.
Narulkar stated that the government has declared to give a blue taxi stand, but those who have black-and-yellow taxies should be given Rs 50,000 to paint their vehicles in blue colour.
Adv Shahapurkar said the taxi operators will continue their agitation till the demarcation of the land is done. Mahale said there is confusion regarding who would be parking their taxies on this blue taxi stand. These issues will be discussed in the February 15 meeting.
