Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Congress leader Captain Viriato on Friday hit out at the Government and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho over the new plan of scrapping vehicles over 15 years old and advised the Government to scrap the old casino boats first.
“The Government cannot be insensitive to the lives of the common man who is struggling already and may have taken loans to buy vehicles or use it for a taxi to earn a livelihood. We have seen motorcycle pilots using bikes that may be old to feed their families when the Government cannot offer jobs,” said Fernandes.
“In case the Government is so concerned about pollution, the Government must first scrap casino boats in Mandovi River which were sailing 25 years ago in Other countries. The casino operators have modified these boats, repainted and got these old boats as casino boats. These boats have huge powerful engines that cause heavy pollution, and we can see the smoke from these boats; the pollution caused by these boats is way less than pollution caused by small engines of vehicles on the road,” said Fernandes.
“The Director General of Shipping has issued a new order on 24th February 2023 to scrap ships over 25 years or recertify them. If these boats can be recertified, why can’t the Government recertify the vehicles on the road? We believe that the ministers get heavy commissions from vehicle manufacturers to come with such law so that people are forced to sell old vehicles and buy new vehicles,” said Fernandes.
