SHILLONG: The Meghalaya People’s Labour Union (MPLU) and the Joint Coordination Committee of Commercial Vehicles (JCCCV) held a meeting on Monday in the city and passed various resolutions and raised demands to tackle the problems being faced by the tourist taxis and local taxi operators in the state.
In a joint statement, the MPLU and JCCCV said that they have decided to work together to find solutions to the problems of the commercial vehicle operators in the state.
“These include the operators of tourist taxis and local taxis who are facing serious problems due to unregulated growth of the tourism sector, which number around 18, 000 vehicles under the JCCCV at present. This affects around one lakh people in around 15,000 number of households in Khasi and Jaintia Hills. It was decided to support the demands of the JCCCV submitted to the transport minister dated December 6,” the joint statement said.
The joint statement also said that in line with the Meghalaya Residents Security and Safety Act, 2016, the state government should restrict or regulate the plying of tourist taxis from outside to tourist spots in the state.
“This will immediately benefit the local operators of commercial vehicles, local tourist guides and travel agencies,” the statement said.
They have also urged the government to boost employment by creating an understanding of the tourism sector with the banking sector through the State Level Bankers’ Committee for better financing of tourism schemes including financing of commercial vehicles for unemployed youths and transport operators.
They further urged the government to form a working committee of the MPLU and the JCCCV to follow up on the issues agreed on.
They also said awareness programmes on road safety, public relations by drivers, understanding of the new Motor Vehicle Act and the MRSS Act 2016 will be orgainsed.
The statement also lamented over the contemporary revenue generation and employment despite “more than 600 commercial vehicles coming from outside to various tourist destinations in the state.”
“Vehicles from outside are controlled by travel agencies from Assam and most of the requirements of their touristic needs, such as food and accommodation, are being provided and arranged by these tourist agencies. Meghalaya actually gets more pollution from these vehicles, haphazard throwing of single-use plastics, reckless driving in difficult terrain such as Sohra, Mawlynnong, Dawki, Mawphanlur and others which result in negative impact in our state as well as unregulated entry, which also benefits people of dubious credentials,” they said.
