This Government is going all out for second hand electric cars supposedly to reduce fossil fuel import and promote clean environment.
That's great but why is the same Government promoting Motor Bike tourism? Recently I saw a group of foreign tourists of motor bikers and there are others coming in. Motor bikes are terribly noisy,consume fossil fuel and extremely dangerous to already congested narrow mountain roads. If Bhutan is serious about its environment and curtailing its fuel consumption then motor bike tours and car rallies must be banned.
Taxi service provide substantial employment to many Bhutanese. However the Government has now closed this opportunity to low income Bhutanese. You cannot register a taxi unless it is an electric car. The electric cars are second hand and very expensive . It really seems that the policy is only to promote business of existing electric car agency as so claimed by many.
The Government is promoting motor bike tours and it permits so many fossil fuel consuming motor vehicles of Indian ownership to ferry tourists in Bhutan. And yet job starved Bhutanese cannot register motor cars for taxi service unless the car is electrically powered.
The Government knows that taxi service provides major private employment. Many poor urban families are solely dependent on income from the taxi. The taxi drivers even receive royal audience once a year because the King recognises the social and economic role the taxi drivers and their families play in supporting the policy of self reliance. In Bhutan taxis are individually owned and driven unlike in other countries where most taxi services are run by companies.
The Government is in blatant breach of national faith because it imposes second hand electric cars dumped by developed nations upon Bhutanese citizens especially targeting the large taxi community. And on the other hand the Government encourages foreigners to visit Bhutan on motor bike tours and private motor vehicles from India to ferry tourists in Bhutan.
Motorbike tourists bring in hard currency or Rupee. Its the only new package we could sell, other than the same old trekking and cultural tours. If it is noisy, its the sign of growing city. We must accept changes.
ReplyDeleteAccept changes yes but its the contradiction in policy that I dwelt upon. Disallowing Bhutanese in Bhutan from registering taxis unless it is electric car on reasons of clean air and reducing fuel import. And allowing non-Bhutanese with vehicles consuming fossil fuel. I understand ur point of view but would an unemployed Bhutanese wanting to register a taxi and not having the means to buy expensive second hand electric car? Any way thank you 1st for expressing your concern and 2nd your opinion under ur own name.
ReplyDelete