The stretch of road admeasuring 100 metres starting from Virgin Garage to the end of Indira Apts Cooperative Housing Society at Comba, Margao, has been taken over by the automobile mechanics who ply their illegal repairs of vehicles without a trade licence all day long and late in the evening giving sleepless nights to the society residents. They sport boiler suits as if they are permitted by the powers that be to carry on their wrongful work. The emissions of carbon monoxide and obnoxious gases released in the atmosphere by carburettors of engines are toxic in nature which are perforce inhailed by residents thereby affecting their health most of whom are senior citizens.
The whole road on either side of the divide is highjacked by these unscrupulous elements. Nowhere have we witnessed a garage in the heart of the city. Virgincar Garage which is a sprawling complex next door is lying fallow due to these roadside mechanics who carry out repairs at a fraction of the cost of established players who run their business on volumes without paying any taxes. Frequent complaints have been lodged with the Margao Municipal Council and local MLA which have fallen on deaf ears. It is requested in right earnest to explore under which labour act I.e Factory Act or Industrial Disputes Act this category of work falls and action against the provisions be initiated.The Pollution Control Board may also do an Air Quality Check to ascertain the toxicity of the air in the area.
