SHILLONG : The All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) on Wednesday staged a public rally at Malki Ground in Shillong to challenge the state government’s stance on tourism and local transport.
During the rally, the association resolved to submit a memorandum to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, urging the state government to restrict tourist vehicles from Assam and other states from ferrying visitors to Meghalaya’s tourist spots.
The association has decided to give a one-week deadline to the government to meet their demand.
The association plans to hold a peace rally and hunger strike if the government continues to remain unresponsive to their demand.
Ricaldinus Dohling, the president of the AKMTTA, accused the government of long-standing disregard for their concerns.
The rally was a part of the week-long black flag protest by the association that ended on September 14
Amor Kurbah, president of the Laitylli Tourist Drivers and Owners Association has demanded the implementation of a policy that would secure the livelihoods of local taxi owners and drivers.
He stated that approximately 37 associations and over 1,000 drivers and owners participated in the meeting to deliberate how Assam cabs would affect their livelihood and future.
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General Secretary Balajied Jyrwa clarified that they didn’t want to ban vehicles from other states, but just wanted the commercial vehicles to drop the tourists in designated spots.
He also urged the government to improve infrastructure, such as upgrading the Mendipathar Railway Station and developing the Shillong Airport to boost local tourism.
