Port Blair, Sept 05: Expressing serious concern over new rule introduced by Transport Department to issue Tourist Permit for vehicles to only those people who have their own land, Mr. M Vinod the President of Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) has requested immediate intervention of Lt. Governor.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, Mr. M Vinod mentioned that the Transport Department, A & N Administration has stopped the issuance of permits (yellow board) to the vehicles owned by unemployed youth or investors since last one year and as a result, the unemployed youths who have availed the scheme benefits of PMEGP / Mudra / Standup and other loans for procurement of new vehicles are facing difficulties for earning their livelihood and repayment of EMI.
“Transport Department has published an order with regards to parking space for issue of tourist permit where it is mentioned that people having land will only get tourist permit. We feel this rule will not help any unemployed youth of this islands as lot of them don’t own a land. AATO has always requested the authorities to kindly consult the stakeholders before implementing any decision related to tourism industry which directly effects the livelihood of the islanders,” Mr. Vinod added.
He requested the Lt. Governor to look into the above issues in the perspective of unemployment prevailing in these islands and scarcity of jobs in govt. and private sectors and kindly direct the concerned authorities / STA to commence the issuance of Permits of such vehicles immediately and also to review the new decision of Parking space by STA .
