Taxi drivers under the Meghalaya Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicles (MJACCV) could launch an indefinite strike from Wednesday in Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills if the government does not reconsider its proposed revision of fares.
The state government had increased fares last year after reducing the number of passengers that taxis could ferry. Now, however, with the Covid-19 situation apparently easing, the administration wants to revert to the previous fare regime.
This has infuriated the taxi drivers, who feel the fares need to be kept at a higher rate especially since petrol prices are close to hitting Rs 100 per litre, while commercial vehicles continue to tied down for half the week due to the operation of the odd-even rule to restrict traffic movement.
“The state government is charging an exorbitant tax of more than Rs 31 per litre of petrol while the central government tax is just Rs 16.50 per litre and this has affected not only the commercial vehicles but the general public as well,” MJACCV Chairman Wandonbok Jyrwa told reporters today.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who met with the representatives of the body today, said that the tax is a cess meant for the education sector and the state can ill-afford to give it up when its finances are in bad health.
“It needs to be examined. I cannot just decide but I will have to take it up with the Transport Department and see what can be done,” Tynsong said.
Jyrwa criticized the government for charging the Rs 31 tax while supposedly not cracking down on illegal coal activities.
He also said that Tynsong was also unwilling to listen when the MJACCV informed him of the plight of tourist taxi drivers from the state, who have been hit hard because tourism has taken a massive hit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, with regards to the odd-even restriction, the Deputy CM told the delegation that the government will consider scrapping it for commercial vehicles. Jyrwa, however, pointed out that the government has said it will consider this since last June.
Despite a slowdown in bookings and fewer days allowed to take their vehicles on the streets, commercial vehicles, numbering at least 20,000 in Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills, are still subject to the full amount of state taxes for their commercial licence, which is not less than Rs 5,700 in East Khasi Hills.
