TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: Condemning the protest rally staged by All Goa Scrap Dealers Association at Mapusa, Rastra Mogi Goemkar (RMG) has appealed the government not to take any cognizance of the demands made by the association and to demolish other illegal scrap yards all over the State.
According to a press note, Rastra Mogi Goemkar Secretary Jitesh Kamat stated that the demolition drive of illegal scrap yards at Karraswado carried out by government authorities was in accordance with the law.
“These scrap yards have been constructed on comunidade land by filling the fields with mud, which is illegal. The scrap yard owners association has got full right to approach the court for justice if it feels that the scrap yards erected by them are legal,” stated Kamat.
“Scrap yards were a real nuisance for residents of Karraswado and cause great mental harassment. Sufferings of the residents of Karaswada were similar to the people living in polluted areas of illegal mining. The scrap yards along the sides of NH17 have developed into an accident-prone zone.”
“People working in these scrap yards reside in these scrap yards and use the surrounding fields or bushes or roadsides to answer nature’s call.
They take bath and wash their clothes in open area, creating breeding ponds for mosquitoes which would create massive health problems in future,” stated the press note.
“These scrap yards give very wrong impression to tourists passing through NH17. Most of the workers working with the scrap yard dealers are non-Goans. Hence, there is possibility that criminals or even terrorists can use these scrap yards as a shelter or hiding place.
Mapusa Municipal Council deserves compliments for initiating action against scrap yards,” stated Kamat in the press note.
The scrap yard owners had recently taken out a rally in Mapusa defending their structures and condemning demolitions.
