MARGAO
Will the authorities shed light on the fate of the Goa Waste (Scrap) Recycling Units Scheme, which had mooted shifting of the scrapyards operating in the towns and villages to trade zones?
That’s not all. Has any of the trade zones mooted under the scheme taken shape in any of the industrial estates across the state since the scheme was unveiled over a decade ago in 2010?
For an answer, consider this: When The Goan tried to find out from the Margao Municipal Council whether any of the scrapyards dotting the commercial capital has been rehabilitated in the trade zones, municipal engineers feigned ignorance over the issue.
This assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Margao Municipal Council is the licensing authority for all commercial activities in its jurisdiction, including the scrapyards.
In fact, a municipal engineer claimed that the issue of illegal scrapyards has now come under the scanner of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). He said the GSPCB has been conducting hearings on scrapyards.
Interestingly, when The Goan called up the Goa State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro to shed light on the status of the proceedings against scrapyards, if any, she said she would find out whether the Board is dealing with the issue.
What’s interesting to note is that the office of the Sub-divisional Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Margao, too has no information on the status of the scrapyards in the commercial capital and around Salcete countryside.
Newly-posted SDM and Deputy Collector Margao Uday Prabhudesai said he would find out with the dealing clerk about the status of the scrapyards. His predecessor Prasad Volvoikar too maintained that the issue of illegal scrapyards did not come before him during his stint in office.
The Goan, however, understands that the government-constituted joint taluka committee headed by then Sub-divisional Magistrate Margao Johnson Fernandes had kick-started the exercise of rehabilitating the illegal scrapyards in the trade zones under the Goa Waste (Scrap) Recycling Units Scheme around a decade ago.
In fact, inquiries have revealed that the SDM’s office was flooded with a whopping 149 applications when the exercise was initiated by then Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes.
Inquiries have further revealed that the Deputy Collector had shortlisted 50 scrapyards for immediate shifting to the trade zones, recommending to the Director of Industries to register these yards to pave way for their shifting.
Incidentally, many scrapyards continue to operate in Sao Jose de Areal village in Salcete, even as the local population has been raising the issue at every gram sabha for action, but in vain.
Social activist Freddy Travaso pointed out that the village panchayat should tell the villagers how many scrapyards have been shut down.
Former Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas, however, said that the panchayat had initiated proceedings against the illegal scrapyards, but the process is held up since the owners have moved the courts.
“Proceedings against three scrapyards have pending in the court for orders, while the proceedings against another eight are pending before the court of Additional Panchayat Director”, he said.
Incidentally, a scrapyard dealer told The Goan that the yard owners are
waiting for the government to implement the 2010 scheme, promising to move to the designated trade zones as and when set up by the administration.
