CM for legal means to dull strikes’ impact

{SNS KOLKATA}, 20 SEPT: Taking a strong stand against the frequent strike calls by private transporters, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the state transport department will introduce a clause in the permits to be issued to private buses and taxis to prevent any such “disruption” in public service in future. Even though, on an earlier occasion, the chief minister had threatened private transporters saying that their permits will be seized, the absence of any such clause had posed a problem against taking action against errant cab and bus owners.

 But today she reacted sharply against the decision of taxi and bus owners to keep their vehicles off the roads. “How can they keep their vehicles off the roads every second day? Every time the Centre raises fuel prices they stop plying vehicles or demand more fare and even refuse passengers. And taxi owners under some trade unions are doing it more frequently than the bus owners,” she said. “We held a meeting with transport minister and officials.

 We have decided that the new permits which we will give would include a clause to prevent any such disruption in public service,” the chief minister added. Though the private transporters had assured that they have withdrawn the strike there was hardly any private buses visible on the roads except a few minibuses. According to transport department officials, a proposal to enact legislation banning bandhs in Bengal is also being mulled though chief minister is against the Essential Service Maintenance Act. 

“There might be a similar legislation but she has an anathema against the term ESMA," said an official. Three states, including Kerala and Rajasthan, already have this legislation in place and Maharashtra, too, has enacted it recently, banning strikes in essential services like hospitals and the transport sector. The issue was broached to the chief minister on 26 July, on the eve of a Citu-called bus strike which was eventually called off.