PANAJI
The State government on Friday made its stand clear of no-compromise to the demands of the agitating taxi operators. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the taxi operators are using GoaMiles as an excuse to keep off from installing digital meters.
Meanwhile, the taxi operators remained firm on their demand stating no talks will be held until GoaMiles service is scrapped.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the taxi operators by calling for a strike have violated ESMA which is in force till May 2021.
Speaking to media persons, Godinho said the demand for scrapping GoaMiles of taxi operators is an excuse to skip installing digital taxi meters which has been mandated by the High Court. “The new digital meters will have GPS and it cannot be tampered with,” he added.
"We will be tackling the agitation with iron hand," he stated while adding that, GoaMiles will not be allowed to operate from Airport stalls as app-based aggregators cannot have stalls there.
He said genuine demands of taxi operators have already been met and the government has given subsidy to taxi operators.
"Tax and penalty have been waived and now digital meters being provided free of cost for which the government has spent Rs 34 crores. With such benefits there is no scope for argument that the government has not listened to demands of taxi operators", said Godhino.
The Transport Minister said that the adamant attitude of taxi operators will affect the tourism business which is already struggling as a result of the prevailing pandemic.
The minister argued that when online business is doing well in other sectors, opposition to online business cannot be made an exception to only the taxi business.
Taxi operators refuse to budge
PANAJI: The taxi operators are firm on their stand and said that unless the government scraps the GoaMiles aggregators the strike will not be called off.
"The government can't take taxi operators for granted. The government has to scrap GoaMiles first and only then we can have discussions on other issues", said Bappa Korgaonkar, leader of the taxi operators.
Meanwhile, political leaders like Amarnath Panjikar of Congress, Pratima Coutinho of AAP along with party workers visited the agitating taxi operators at Azad Maidan and extended their support to the agitating group.
"Rulers should not kill the taxi business for selfish gains as the taxi business is a major employment source in the state", said Amarnath Panjikar.
Find and amicable solution to the issue: AAP
PANAJI: Aam Aadmi Party on Friday expressed its solidarity with the protesting taxi drivers. AAP leader Pratima Coutinho met with the taxi drivers at the Azad Maidan. Taxi drivers expressed their anguish on not getting the support from the Govt and told that they have been waiting for CM Sawant’s appointment as agreed by him a month back.
Also, they said that due to pandemic there is already a shortage of tourists in the state and unable to get usual business.
“Goa CM must have a dialogue with our fellow goan brothers who run taxis. They are an integral part of the tourism industry. An amicable solution has to be arrived at in interest of taxi owners and all tourism stakeholders,” said AAP convener Rahul Mhambre.
Pratima Coutinho said that Govt must find a solution to this problem as it is directly impacting the lives of Goans. Govt need to accept that because of last year’s lockdown and now a decreased number of tourists coming to Goa, it is becoming tough for taxi drivers to earn their livelihood.
