Jowai, Oct 26: The commercial vehicle organizations from Jaiñtia Hills under the banner of All Jaiñtia Commercial Vehicle Association (AJCVA) on Tuesday organised a protest against the rise in prices of petrol and diesel and the increase in the rate of commercial vehicle permits.
More than 30 commercial vehicle organisations from the region took part in the protest.
Tourist vehicle owners and drivers expressed their anger against the sudden abolishing of the 3 state permits by the central government, which has been replaced by the compulsory All India Permit.
They informed that earlier for the permit (three states) they had to pay Rs. 2,900 annually but with the compulsory All India Permit they will have to pay Rs. 15,000 per annum for vehicles without Air Conditioning (AC) and Rs. 25,000 for vehicles having AC.
The General Secretary of the Jowai Shillong Tourist Cab Association (JSTCA), John Lyngdoh, said they are against this move of the government as they ferry passengers only in Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills and that the move of the government will just further exploit them.
“If we work just in order to pay Permits and Taxes, how can we feed our children?” exclaimed a disappointed Lyngdoh urging the State Government to intervene into the matter at the earliest.
Paila Lyngkot, President of the AJCVA, informed that this protest is organised in both East and West Jaiñtia Hills and stated that the rise in prices of fuel is affecting them post lockdown because they have to abide by the passenger fares set by the Transport Department whereas the fuel prices are increasing daily.
Moreover, he said the All India Permit will impact the Tourist vehicle owners especially post lockdown, and appealed to the government to scrap this notification where all tourist vehicles should posses an All India Permit.
During the protest which was organised at each parking spot for commercial vehicles in Jowai town, drivers and vehicle owners were seen carrying banners and placards condemning the state and central Government and also had black flags tied to their vehicles.
