TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Deputy Collector Ajit Panchwadkar, the Curtorim sanitary inspector, panch members, and the IDC field officer inspected the Margao Industrial Estate and areas of Sao Jose De Areal after 17 cases of dengue were detected in the village.
Several industrial sheds and areas were found violating the Health Act and industrial laws. One shed had dilapidated cubicles that housed 15 to 16 child labourers. Some of them had contracted dengue, but weren’t given any treatment.
More than 20 labourers, mostly aged between 15-16 years, were found in the estate during the inspection. When questioned, the IDC field officer and general manager both claimed ignorance. It is known that the IDC hasn’t given the GM an order to resume work, and it even issued him a memo when he tried to work.
After the inspection, Panchwadkar directed the panchayat to write to the authorities seeking action against the violators. He said, “It has come to our notice that there are several scrap yards which violate the Health Act. I will make sure that the areas which are water-logged and which can be breeding grounds for dengue and malaria are cleared, failing which we will move to seal the sheds. The IDC isn’t in control as these violations are happening in the open.”
When asked about the garbage strewn all over the IDC, the sanitary inspector said, “We could have controlled or prevented this if we had the proper resources and staff. For today’s inspection, we had to import staff from other health centers.”
The Sao Jose De Areal panchayat members informed that they had been complaining and writing to various authorities to take action. Freddy Travaso said, “We are heckled if we even try to act against the violations. One of the scrap dealers sent his man to stop us from inspecting the plot.”
Meanwhile, the anti-human trafficking team arrived at the shed which housed the child labourers, but couldn’t act as the labour inspector and other authorities weren’t called for the inspection. The Maina-Curtorim Police Inspector advised the Field Officer to write to the authorities and get the wheel turning.
