PANJIM: Congress is preparing to corner the government during the forthcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly on the issue of Goa Miles app which is being opposed by the tourist taxi associations.
After chairing the meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), Leader of Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavalekar said that despite the face-off between the tourist taxi drivers and the app-based taxi operators, the government has not taken steps to hold a dialogue with the taxi operators.
“We will move a calling attention motion on the taxi issue on the first day of the Assembly session. The government has to respond to the concerns and anguish of the people of Goa. Despite the opposition from the tourist taxi operators, the government has made no efforts to listen to their grievances despite several attempts by the taxi owners”, he stated.
He said that traditional businesses should not be allowed to shut down. “One after another the traditional trades and businesses are under threat. First, the mining industry was brought to a halt and then we see the tourism industry going down and now the taxi business is also being attacked. Taxi is a traditional business of Goans and should not be allowed to shut down,” he added.
Kavalekar said that the Congress is preparing to corner the government on all issues affecting Goans. “While on the mining issue we have only been getting assurances and no concrete solution has been provided. On the other hand, coal pollution continues without any checks. People keep opposing, but the government does not take measures. Other issues include CRZ violations and drugs menace, which has only been increasing as each day passes on,” he said.
He informed that the government has paid heed to their request and a presentation on the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) will be made to the Opposition MLAs on June 28.
The Leader of Opposition said that the government would not be allowed to escape without addressing the issues affecting the people. “The government always tries to escape by not letting either the question come for discussion or not letting the desired supplementary questions to be placed. We will ensure as a party that all the questions related to people’s issues are raised and the government made accountable,” he added.
