Team Herald
PANJIM: Terming the taxi strike illegal, Transport Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Wednesday warned of stern action, including suspension of licences, subsidy benefits and criminal proceeding, against taxi operators resorting to violence during the strike.
The Minister went on to say that an extra 350 Kadamba buses and around 1000 private vehicles will be deployed to tide over the strike in a bid to curb inconvenience to tourist and locals.
Addressing the media, Dhavalikar said, “The taxi strike called by the operators is completely illegal as the union has not given any proper intimation or notice to the government or the Transport Department. We have supported the taxi operators in every possible way but still after giving them all the facilities and helping them they have declared the strike. I still request them to take back the strike as Goa is a place of touristic important place and if they want to keep Goenkarponn.”
He added, “If any taxi operator is found taking the law in his hand, he will be punished severely and strict action will be taken which either will be suspension of their licences or subsidy benefit. We have been trying to solve their issues till today but now they have crossed the line and those found guilty will be punished severely. The government, including the police, has taken all possible steps.”
He said the police force will be deployed at all possible strategic points and there will be CCTV surveillance to keep check on illegal activities and violence and the press conference was called to warn taxi operators so they don’t claim that the government did not inform them.
The Transport Minister said that extra buses and private cars will be made available so that the there in minimal problems for the people and tourists.
“We have asked KTC to hire an extra 350 buses to be deployed at all major places, including the airport and railway stations, so that tourists are not inconvenienced. In my opinion 60 buses will be put from the airport. Also 1000 private vehicles will hired and any one found obstructing this will be arrested on the spot,” he said.
Dhavalikar also said that not more than 10,000 taxis will participate in the strike. The taxi union should have given us their demands or the reasons for strike while claiming that half of their demands had been already met during the last meeting.
“I don’t want people to face problems. All those people, including any MLA coming out on the road supporting the strike and any kind of violence, will invite criminal action. Government has already taken steps to bring in extra buses or private vehicles. If need be taxis will be lifted up by cranes if they try to block the path. There can also be a political motive behind this strike,” the minister said.
Taxi operators will observe a strike on January 19 with unions claiming it has been called to protest the installation of speed governors in their vehicles as well as harassment by police and transport authorities.
