The Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF) has poured cold water on the idea that Meghalaya could replicate the Sikkim model on the operation of tourist taxis.
The All Meghalaya Khasi Tourist Taxi Association (AMKTTA) has been pushing for a restriction on the operation of tourist taxis from outside the state within Meghalaya; it wants Assam-registered taxis to drop their passengers off in central locations like Shillong where their passengers would then switch to local tourist taxis.
The MRTF has cautioned against this plan, fearing that tourism would take a massive hit if Assam tourist taxi drivers boycott Meghalaya as a result. Tourists might also have to shell out more for taxis, thereby putting some people off, and the general inconvenience of having to change vehicles partway through a trip might be another turn-off.
However, Sikkim has been able to run this model, the AMKTTA has repeatedly said. The MRTF counters by pointing out the differences between the two states.
MRTF president Alan West Kharkongor said that Sikkim is a protected state that is bound by highly sensitive international borders.
“Our state is a state through which residents of other states like Tripura, Mizoram and Assam transit through and, thus, the adoption of the Sikkim model would raise the issue of movement of people of various other states,” stated Kharkongor.
The forum held an “urgent” meeting on September 30 to discuss the AMKTTA’s demand. Today, the MRTF submitted a letter to the Tourism Minister on its point of view.
The forum maintains that AMKTTA’s proposal is not legally valid, is untenable and is a violation of the Constitution of India under the fundamental right and freedom to carry out inter-state trade and commerce.
While the MRTF is sympathetic to the plight of Meghalaya tourist taxi drivers, “the path taken by them to stop commercial vehicles with valid credentials to ply within Meghalaya is not the path by which they should resort to as this would cause a collapse of the tourism sector in the state and destroy its economy,” Kharkongor said.
The MRTF also wants representation for itself and other tourism groups on the committee constituted by the state government to look into this proposal.
Kharkongor did stick up for the local drivers, who, he told the Tourism Minister, are harassed at Guwahati airport where they lack a dedicated space and where they are charged fees even if they do not come away with passengers. “I have informed this issue to the minister. This can only be taken up at the level of the state government to discuss with the airport authority to ensure that transporters from Meghalaya should get enough parking space inside Guwahati airport,” stated Kharkongor.
