However, a few people feel that the cycle collecting garbage collectors are a relief for residents as some of the scrap material is not collected by the Cuncolim garbage collectors, who collect garbage on a daily basis from the Cuncolim households.
By Armstrong Vaz
Cuncolim: Besides the menace of air, land, water pollution, Cuncolim also faces issues regarding garbage, open defecation and illegal rooms and top it all illegal scrap-yards.
According to official records which have been compiled by the State government, there are 12 scrap-yard in the municipality most of which are based in the Cuncolim Industrial estate, an area which has been the bane of Cuncolim residents for the last four decades.
In a recent initiative aimed at upholding local regulations, Cuncolim Municipality's Junior Engineer (JE) and Councillor John Dias conducted a comprehensive inspection across the area. Their efforts revealed a startling discovery of 11 illegal scrap yards operating within the municipality's jurisdiction.
John in a letter addressed to the Chief Officer of Cuncolim Municipality had alleged that there are 13 scrap yards in Cuncolim municipality jurisdiction.
The visiting team acquainted themselves with the various issues which may crop and got a first-hand account of what was happening in the area, during their visit. The visit to the scrap-yards helped them to get finer details of the materials they are dealing with, the risks involved and the safety measures in place in case any calamity occurs.
“The team undertook a planned inspection targeting areas suspected of housing unauthorized scrapyards. The team, equipped with necessary documentation and local bylaws, meticulously surveyed various locations across Cuncolim,” said John Dias.
During the inspection, the team identified a total of 11 scrapyards operating without the required permits or adherence to environmental regulations. These scrap yards were found to be engaging in activities detrimental to the local environment and posing potential hazards to public health.
The discovery has prompted immediate action from the municipality. Officials have initiated legal proceedings against the owners of these illegal scrap yards, citing violations of municipal codes and environmental laws.
Councillor John Dias emphasized the municipality's commitment to enforcing strict compliance measures to safeguard the community's well-being.
“The inspection carried out by Cuncolim Municipality's JE serves as a critical reminder of the importance of regulatory compliance in safeguarding public health and environmental integrity,” said John Dias.
Incidentally in 2018, during the tenure of Lavita Mascarenhas as Chairperson the Cuncolim Municipality, the civic body had decided to do a survey of the scrap-yards in Cuncolim along with bore wells.
The CMC chairperson had said the decision to conduct a survey of scrap yards and prevent entry of cyclists collecting waste was to ensure cyclewalas from collecting waste in view of the safety of women and children.
“Apart from our daily garbage collection, there are many outsiders roaming on cycles going from house to house but many people don’t know them and feel extremely unsafe especially the women and children. We’ve taken a resolution not only to conduct a survey of the scrapyards in the municipal area but also not to allow these cyclewalas on the internal roads as our municipality collects garbage every day,” Mascarenhas had said .
However, a few people feel that the cycle collecting garbage collectors are a relief for residents as some of the scrap material is not collected by the Cuncolim garbage collectors, who collect garbage on a daily basis from the Cuncolim households.
Some of the material collected from the Cuncolim households and from the surrounding villages make its way to the illegal scrap-yards. A cursory visit to the scrap yards reveals huge mountains of plastic bottles, glass bottles and broken glass, tires, unwanted dry waste material and other scrap piled up in these scrap-yards.
Ironically, in some cases, the government lacks records of when these scrap yards were established, the types of waste they handle, the quantities involved, or the methodologies used. Cuncolim serves as one such example.
Several of these illegal scrap yards deal with plastic, auto spare parts, iron, and metal. There are instances where lands have been illegally converted into scrap yards. Moreover, they do not follow the methodologies needed to control or manage accidents such as fires or gas leaks.
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