Shillong, Sept 22: BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai on Saturday urged Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take suo moto cognizance of the “threats” issued by the All Assam United Motor Transport Association to stop transportation of goods to Meghalaya.
While deploring the “threats”, Shullai came in support of the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association, which has been demanding for ban on outside vehicles – most of them are Assam vehicles – from ferrying tourists to various destinations.
The Assam-based association has reportedly issued the threat in response to some recent incidents of Assam-based vehicles being sent back on their way to tourist destinations in Meghalaya, in the wake of the demand raised by Khasi Hills-based taxi associations.
“The recent and widely publicized statements by All Assam United Motor Transport Association threatening to stop the transport of all goods to Meghalaya, including daily essential items, are highly objectionable and deserve to be strongly condemned,” said the legislator from South Shillong in a statement.
Citing “centuries-old bond” between the people of the region, he said, “This (threat) breaks the spirit of brotherhood amongst Northeast states.”
He requested the Assam chief minister to instruct the authorities to take suo motto cognizance of such “threats” and advocated the need for amicable settlement of the issues.
Pointing out to similar restrictions in Sikkim and Darjeeling in West Bengal, he said stakeholders in these states had agreed upon some common working procedures.
However, he underlined that “both the parties should come to an understanding which will benefit common people and tourists alike”.
“We, as stakeholders in Meghalaya, need to bring in measures by giving better facilities in terms of reasonable rates, better amenities and friendly behaviour so that tourists coming from outside
the state feel more comfortable, enjoy their stay in Meghalaya and prefer local tourist cabs. All tourist taxi associations of Meghalaya and other stakeholders should sit across the table and discuss this matter to promote tourism,” he said.
He informed that the Government of Meghalaya under the leadership of Conrad Sangma has taken enough measures to boost the Tourism industry and that the people need to properly grab and build upon this opportunity.
Furthermore, Meghalaya Tourism is likely to touch its peak within the next 10 years as the initiative taken by the MDA government can increase our Tourism capacity up to 50 lakh per year.
“So, it’s in the interest of both the states that a common understanding be reached between both Assam and Meghalaya tourist taxi associations so that it can benefit the region,” he asserted.
