MARGAO
Time is running for the authorities, including the South Goa District Collector, to crack a whip against the scrap yards located at the Nessai Industrial Estate, as the Curtorim Health centre has issued notices to the erring yards to act as the scrap stacked in the open has become potential breeding sites.
After the June 3, 2022, joint inspection of the scrap yards at the initiative of the Velim MLA Cruz Silva, the Curtorim Health Officer had issued notices on around 19-20 scrap yards, directing them to stop
the nuisance within seven days or face disconnection of water and power supply under the Public Health Act.
A glance at the notices issued by the Curtorim health centre to the scrap yards located at phase 1 & 3, IDC Nessai and Menezes Bhat shows that a large amount of scrap has been kept in the open which are potential breeding sites. The inspection had further come across gutters blocked with scrap materials. It was further revealed that breeding was found in containers.
The notice states that after it was decided to issue notices to all the scarp yard owners, the health centre issued the notices on June 8, but there was no compliance report from the owners.
“This show-cause notice is issued to you as per section 37 of the Goa Public Health Act of 1985. You are hereby directed under section 40 of the Goa Public Health Act of 1985 to take necessary measures to stop this nuisance within seven days of receipt of this notice and give a compliance report to the undersigned, failing which further action will be taken including disconnection of water and electricity supply as per Goa Health Act of 1985 without any further notice,” the notice stated.
The Velim MLA has now pinned hopes on the South Goa Collector to take the necessary measures to ensure that the open dumping of scrap does not offer a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.
“The Curtorim health centre is fearing the worst this monsoon if action, including measures to ensure that the scrap does not become breeding ground for mosquitoes, if not initiated on priority,” he said.
Cruz added: “Some of the scrap owners have complied with the directions, but there are still others which have not complied with the directives.”
The Salcete Mamlatdar, who had accompanied the inspection team on Monday, has promised to draft the village talathi to file a detailed report on the status of the scrap.
The Velim MLA has also asked the authorities to get the IDC to desilt and open the drains, clogged with the waste inside the Nessai industrial estate.
