Margao: The taxi driver’s association in Benaulim were up in arms against a person from the Lamani community named Vasu for being given a tourist taxi driver permit to operate in Benaulim. The drivers had obtained a letter from a hotel in Benaulim as well as a character certificate which is needed to obtain the tourist taxi permit.
One Panchayat member Nilesh Prabhudesai and another ex-panchayat member, Remy Fernandes, were involved in pressurising the Hotel to give a recommendation letter to the individual. According to sources in the Taxi association, Vasu asked Nilesh for help in obtaining the letter. Nilesh, in turn, asked Remy to direct the hotel to issue the letter. However, now both the individuals are pushing the buck on each other. Nilesh informed that he has checked the Vasu’s ration card and asked Remy to get the letter. Remy says that he doesn’t know who the individual was and merely forwarded Nilesh’s request to the hotel.
On Monday, the taxi association along with other villagers asked the Lamanis in the village who are operating shops along the Benaulim beach road to shut down their shops and other businesses such as bike rentals. They also moved around Benaulim asking the members of the Lamani community to ask Vasu to cancel his taxi permit.
The taxi association members informed that they also met the local MLA Churchill Alemao who asked them to met the Colva police and register a complaint. However, after receiving the complaint, the PSI has directed the complaint to the Collector of South Goa.
Interestingly, sources in the taxi association also informed that last week the MLA had asked them to help the individual. Villagers claim he is the main agent to get a ration card for other member of the Lamani community and also enroll in the voting list.
The taxi association members are in talks with the Hotel and government authorities to explore ways to revoke the permit. “Tourist taxis are the only business which is run by Goans. If permits are given like them like this we will have to demand that before granting the permit, the government should publish every application on the newspaper for objections so that we can make sure that non Goans are not given permits”, said a taxi driver.
“Lamani community have dominated all the tourist retail business in Benaulim where items were Rs 50 are sold at Rs 500. Benaulim market road doesn’t look like it is a part of Goan village. In a few years they will take over the village like what is happened in other villages”, said a local in the Benaulim market.
