Panaji: Local taxi operators requested the sarpanch in the Cavelossim gram sabha on Sunday, to allow their taxis to operate outside hotels and other commercial establishments. They fear that the taxi service provided by the hotels will ruin the local taxi operators’ daily livelihood.“We have locals operating restaurants, spas and rental cars in our village. If the hotels continue to provide their private taxi service to the tourists, our business will cease to exist. We request the panchayat to take immediate action and have only local taxis parked at stands outside the hotels,” said a local taxi operator.Sarpanch Dixon Vaz told TOI, “We have taken their concerns under consideration and we will hold a panchayat meeting to discuss the same.”The residents raised issue of pollution in the sea happening due to the repairs of two private fishing jetties, stating that the restoration and painting of the jetties are contaminating the water.The gram sabha also resolved not to approve the draft Coastal Zone Regulation 2019, as the survey excluded a few structures. “Some houses and churches are not included in the draft plan. We will write to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and request them to add to our suggestions,” said Vaz.Besides, the gram sabha approved the budget for the year 2026-27. Vaz said they have a surplus budget this year.
