MAPUSA: Situation turned tensed outside a private club resort at Assonora after local taxi drivers objected to setting up of private counter. However, the management of resort was not ready to meet the locals requesting them to change the number of delegation to 10 from 20, including nine panchayat members.
Later in the evening when the taxi operators showed signs of turning violent, the Deputy Collector and Police rushed to the spot and defused the situation.
Sarpanch of Assonora Shankar Naik, ZP Member Kavita Kandolkar and other panchayat members were also present, with the local taxi operators
Villagers said that a nine-point MOU was signed between the Assonora village panchayat and Club resort in February 2015, wherein it was agreed that based on the requirement of resort operation, local village taxi Operators would be hired without any condition by taxi owners or village or unions and also would follow as per Road Transport Department for hiring taxi for transportation of members or guests.
Sarpanch Naik said, “All panchayat members have come to support the villagers as they are being treated unfairly. The official of the resort refused to meet the taxi drivers. In this case, we fully support our locals”.
Devraj Kandolkar, Vice President of Assonora Owners Taxi Association, said, “The hotel management had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the panchayat. However, now the Resort does not want to meet the demands. We don’t want to work under anyone’s hands and we strongly oppose private taxis counter”.
Later in the evening the situation turned tense as the taxi drivers parked their vehicles outside the resort’s gate. Following which Deputy Collector of Bardez Kapil Phadte rushed to the spot. Deputy Superintendent of Police Gajanan Prabhudesai, Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar and Pernem PI Jivba Dalvi were present to hold talks with the taxi drivers.
Following the intervention of Deputy Collector and Police officials, taxi drivers sat down for a meeting where the management, agreeing to the demands, said no private taxi service would be allowed and only taxi fare chart should be followed.
Taxi driver Bappa Korgaonkar said, “We will not allow private taxi counters. We are ready to fight till the end. We are not responsible if this leads to law and order situation. Basically setting up a private counter will cost the agency more money from customers and this will lead to the misconception among consumers that taxi drivers in Goa charge higher fares”.
