The demolished scrapyard, S K Plastics, was one of several scrapyards owned by one Mehtab Alam Khan. The owner had moved court after the panchayat issued him a notice asking him to clear the area. NGOs and villagers had filed a case against the scrapyards in Sao Jose De Areal, and have finally gotten relief.
“The villagers were baffled by the number of dengue and malaria cases that were detected last monsoons. We had then decided not to spare these scrapyards, which are the main reason for the spread of such diseases,” said Gabriel Oliveira, Areal panch, adding, “Some NGOs and also the ward development committees have filed complaints and made several follow-ups, and now the scrap yards have finally begun to go.”
The locals informed that there were 14 more scrapyards, which were problem areas, and they would soon be demolished.
