Bethora getting tough on illegal scrap yards

Bethora getting tough on illegal scrap yards
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Of the 13 scrap yards in the jurisdiction of Bethora Panchayat, two have already been stopped, while show-cause notices have been issued to the remaining scrap yards.
Bethora Sarpanch Poonam Samant while disclosing this at the Gram Sabha on Sunday said the panchayat is serious in its efforts to take action against illegal scrap yards and the process is in progress.
“Two scrap yards have already been stopped and the process to take action on the remaining scrap yards is in progress. We have already issued show-cause notices to the remaining 11 scrap yards,” said Samant while replying to a question raised by villagers on the action taken against the scrap yards.
“We also consider giving them time to shift the material to some other place outside the Bethora Panchayat,” added Samant.
It may be recalled that the villagers during the earlier Gram Sabha citing pollution had demanded to take action against the scrap yards in the village.
About 50 villagers were present for the Gram Sabha which lasted for over two hours and was peaceful. Though there were no new resolutions passed, but villagers made some suggestions towards developmental and other issues.
“There were no new resolutions taken during the Gram Sabha and the discussions were on the action taken by the panchayat on previous resolutions passed,” said Samant.
A villager suggested that the panchayat should finalise its annual budget and development plan in January. “By doing this, it will be helpful to get sanction from the State government as the State budget is March. If we hand over our plan before March, then government could make budgetary provision to the projects suggested by the panchayat,” added the villager.
The villagers also sought to know on the action taken to stop picnickers entering water stream at Kodar-Ponda. It may be recalled that recently three youth drowned at Kodar and sources informed that since the last few years many have drowned at the same place which is famous among picnickers.
“It was collective decision of the people and the panchayat to stop people from entering water stream at Kodar. The pathway to the water stream passes through government land and a letter requesting to install gates was already made to the concerned department,” informed Panch Prasad Prabhugaonkar.
“The concerned department installed gates at the entry points and now there is no access to public except for some locals who have their houses in the area. Keys have been given to individual houses and picnickers are not allowed,” said Prabhugaonkar.