Govt to set up trade zones for recyclable waste soon
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 30
The State government will soon start the process of setting up trade zones to conduct the business of buying, selling and processing of recyclable waste including scrap.
‘Recyclable waste’ means all waste that can be recycled including scrap except waste covered under the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 and the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989.
Rules have just been framed and notified providing for “orderly establishment of waste (scrap) recycling units in Goa under the Goa Waste (Scrap) Recycling Units Scheme, 2010.
For orderly establishment of such waste recycling units, henceforth no person would be able to conduct any business in recyclable waste in Goa unless he/she gets the unit registered with Directorate of Industries, Trade & Commerce.
As per the scheme, the government is to set up trade zones for recycleable waste, in consultation with Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) within two years.
The zones would be located considering their proximity to the existing Industrial Estates. GIDC will undertake the development of the land and provision of necessary infrastructure for the conduct of the trade zones.
LAND ALLOCATION: The allotment of land in the trade zone will be made by the GIDC to registered persons only after detailed assessment of the requirement.
Preference will be given to those persons who establish processing facility attached to the trading business.
The land will be allotted on lease basis/rental basis subject to such terms and conditions and at rates as may be fixed by GIDC taking into consideration the prevailing market price, development cost and other factors in conformity with the policy of GIDC, the notification said.
If the business is not relocated within three months from the date of allotment of land, it would be reverted to GIDC and the registration of the trader would be liable to be cancelled.
The utilization of the land allotted will be monitored by the additional collector every year and submit report to Secretary (Revenue) who may take appropriate decision in case the land is not utilised for the purpose it is allotted, according to the Rules framed.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: All registered recyclable waste units, according to the notification, will be eligible for financial assistance as applicable under the various existing Government Schemes.
REGISTRATION WITHIN 2 MONTHS: Every person who on the date of commencement of this Scheme is engaged in the business of recyclable waste will have to get himself registered with the Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce within two months of such commencement. The registration fee is Rs 1000.
Any person who fails to apply for registration will not be allowed to continue with the business of recycling waste.
The applications received will be referred by the Director of Industries to the Joint Committee constituted at the Sub-Divisional Office level. Such Joint Committees will be constituted by the District Magistrates for North and South Goa Districts at Panjim, Mapusa, Bicholim, Pernem, Ponda, Margao, Vasco, Quepem and Canacona.
The committees will consist of the following members, namely: respective Sub-Divisional Magistrate concerned (Chairman), sarpanch/chief officer of the village/municipality, sub-divisional police officer, station fire officer in-charge of the area concerned, representative from the Health Department, Town and Country Planning Department, Labour, GIDC, Goa State Pollution Control Board, while Directorate of Industries will be the convener.
The Joint Committee will scrutinize and assess all the applications within three months of receiving them, and meet on fortnightly basis to decide on them.
The Director of Industries will issue a certificate upon registration on the receipt of recommendations from the Joint Committee.
The Director of Industries will also send a copy of certificate of registration to the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes for tax Assessment.
VALDITY: The certificate of registration will be valid for one to three years depending upon the type of trading activities as carried out by the persons and the renewal will be done on payment of Rs 500.
Meanwhile, GIDC will identify vacant plots in industrial estates for location of scrap yard as short term measures.
