Team Herald
MAPUSA: Taxi owners under the banner of ‘Together for Pernem’ have threatened to go on an indefinite sit-in outside the government complex at Pernem if the government fails to allot them a taxi counter at the Manohar International Airport (MIA) in the next two days.
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In this regard, the associations on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Deputy Collector Pernem giving intimation of the sit-in.
They said that they are not going to believe any letters from the government, but want a taxi counter on the ground.
“Our only request to the government is to do justice to us by providing a taxi counter. For the last two months, the government has been playing hide and seek with the people of Pernem. We are only asking for something that is rightfully ours,” taxi owners said.
“Former MLAs of Pernem and also the then Chief Minister had assured us that this airport would be a blessing for Pernem and only the locals will have the benefits. But today the situation is opposite,” the taxi owners added.
Uday Mahale, convener of Mopa Airport Panchkroshi People’s Organisation and Secretary Baya Varak said, “Before taking the land, the government had assured that the affected people would be given business opportunities, jobs and other financial benefits. But once the lands were taken, all these promises were forgotten.”
“Today the government is trying to bypass us. Land losers have not received proper compensation or royalty. We were even assured that the land was purchased by the transport department and affected people would get jobs in the transport department,” Mahale pointed out.
Mahale further accused the government of selling the land for commercial projects.
