TEAM HERALD
TIVIM: Four illegal scrap yards were demolished along a 160-mtr stretch of government land near the highway at Colvale on Friday.
The demolitions were carried out following an order of Deputy Collector Sabaji Shetye and in the presence of the Mamladar Pundalik Khorjuvekar, Joint Mamlathdar Dashrath Gawas and a strong police force.
“Four scrap yards were demolished today and the demolition operation was conducted in a peaceful manner,” said Shetye.
Khorjuvekar told Herald that the talathi of Colvale panchayat had submitted a report on the encroachments about six months ago.
“As per the order of the deputy collector, we are demolishing encroachments along a 160-mtr stretch of government land near the NH 17 at Colvale,” said Khorjuvekar.
Speaking to Herald, some residents recalled that they had demonstrated against the scrap yards at Colvale, after a major fire had broken out at one scrap yard.
However, one scrap yard owner, Mehmood Khan, claimed that the scrap yard was demolished on land that was acquired in 1978 and notified in 1981.
“I want the government to show us the exact dimension of our land. I had pleaded to the deputy collector to give us at least 24 hours to prove our claims, but no time was given to us. There are so many liquor shops near the highway, why
Dismissing Khan’s allegations, Shetye said: “Mehmood Khan has admitted about the illegal encroachment on government land. So, where is the question of giving them time?”
