The Goa State Pollution Control Board has issued directions to the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao to seal the scrap yards operating in the village. GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Norohna said the Board has issued the directions to the SDM to close down the scrap yards since they have been operating without the mandatory consent to operate. “We have acted based on the inspection carried out by the Board officials in the village last year. The inspection was conducted following a complaint lodged by the Sao Jose de Areal panchayat,” Norohna said.
Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao, Ajit Panchwadkar on Friday had a meeting with the Mamlatdar and police officials to plan out the exercise. Panchwadkar told Herald that his office plans to execute the GSPCB order within a fortnight’s time and ensure that it is complied with in to to.
He pointed out that Collectorate’s officials will inspect the scrap yards to find out whether they are located in gated complexes so that the gates are sealed and the operation shut down. “We plan to seal the premises since the Collectorate has no space to store the scrap items”, he said.
The illegal scrap yards in Sao Jose de Areal had been plaguing the village over the last many years, with villagers demanding action against the illegal activity, but in vain.
