TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai Tuesday took on the government on the issue of delay in finding alternate locations for scrap yards considering the fact that this business is a threat to life and property.
While the government agreed with Sardesai’s view, it pointed out that scrap yards are not wanted anywhere including industrial estates due to fear of thefts and other security issues.
While the Minister for Industries Mahadev Naik said that attempts to find new locations for scrap yards was on, the chief minister informed the House that once identified, scrap yards will have to move to the new locations within six months or will be treated as an illegal activity and criminal business.
He said, “The rules of the village panchayat and municipal councils will also have to be amended in this regards.”
The plan is to have four trade zones for rehabilitating scrap yards so that they are shifted out of towns and villages. The government has identified land at Colvale, Bicholim, Bethora and Sirvoi. While around 4 lakh sq meters of land has been identified at Sirvoi, approximately one lakh sq meters of land has been identified in each of the other three places.
The government intends selling each scrap dealer around 500 sq meters of land in the identified locations.
Sardesai sought to know why the government was not taking scrap yards from Margao and Vasco to Verna industrial estate as proposed earlier, to which he was told that industrial estates are opposing scarp yards for fear of thefts.
While Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal, expressed resentment over the delay in removing illegal scrap yards in his constituency, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral sought to know how land was identified at Sirvoi in his constituency without taking him and the locals into confidence.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo also expressed concern over stay being granted by the administrative tribunal on orders of the deputy collector for removal of illegal scrap yards.
The House was also told that the government would consider granting extension of time for implementing the scheme on the Goa Waste (Scrap) Recycling Unit scheme 2010 which lapses in April 2014.
Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal also took on the government over the Bicholim industrial estate which was in a pathetic condition and expressed disgust over the fact that the government was trying to move scrap yards to the area instead of developing the industrial estate.
He was informed by the minister for industries that IDC has already drawn up plans and estimates for improving the industrial estate and works would be initiated shortly.
