Its votes gathering time ! Dhavalikar finally decides to meet with the taxi operators . Is he really serious about solving their grievances?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Dhavalikar-meets-taxi-operators-to-resolve-issues/articleshow/52644872.cms
The first meeting of the committee constituted under the chairmanship oftransport minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar alias Sudin to look into the grievances oftourist taxi operators was held on Tuesday.
In April 2016, tourist taxi operators had gone on strike, protesting the alleged non-action by the government in not fulfilling their pending demands. Their main demand included action against self- drive cars operating illegally as tourist taxis in Goa.
A transport official said, since it was the first meeting after the committee was constituted, no decision was taken, although issues were discussed. The second meeting is scheduled next week and some concrete decisions are expected.
Tourists, visiting Goa in April, were affected when more than 10,000 tourist taxis and auto-rickshaws remained off the road for two whole days. They ended their protest after chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar assured them to resolve their issues in a phased manner. The committee was specifically formed to sort out the issues.
Tourist taxi operators are opposed to electronic meters, and have also been demanding dropping criminal charges against some taxi operators when their agitation turned violent in 2014 when they gathered in large numbers at Porvorim and blocked the highway.
Vice- president of North Goa taxi owners’ association, Ravindra Vengurlekar told TOI, “After the initial meeting that took place on April 12, the CM had assured us that four weekly meetings would be held to resolve issues. We have reminded the CM about these meetings on two occasions, but to no avail.”