Amid row, sarpanch of Cavelossim backs local cabbies

Margao: A dispute between local and non-local cab operators in Cavelossim has intensified, with both sides approaching South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma for action.The controversy erupted after Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz said non-local taxi operators cause conflicts with local cabbies, prompting the All Goa Drivers’ Union (AGDU) to seek action for allegedly inciting locals against them.

In its complaint, AGDU accused Vaz of making “false and misleading” statements on social media, claiming non-local taxi operators enter the village without permits and forcibly pick up tourists. The union said their drivers adhere to legal guidelines and only accept prior bookings.A

GDU alleged that local taxi operators had assaulted several of their members in the past during pick-up and drop-off operations.Vaz, joined by local taxi operators, met the SP on Thursday and said that the decision to restrict outside taxis was made jointly by the panchayat and the villagers.“Our local taxi operators have invested not only in their vehicles but also in their commitment to serving our community,” Vaz stated in his letter to the SP. He said that many locals have made “significant sacrifices, including selling ancestral land, to invest in taxis to support local businesses and hotels”.

The sarpanch said non-local taxi operators undermine local livelihoods and public safety, and called for action over their false allegations against him.Verma said that police would prevent any escalation, warning that disruptions to law and order would be dealt with firmly.