Checklist confusion delays scrapyard demolitions in Sao Jose de Areal

Margao: The Sao Jose de Areal panchayat on Wednesday carried out partial demolitions of two scrapyards amid confusion arising from improper checklists and panchanama reports, leaving authorities to interpret a 2014 case while executing the demolitions.

The demolitions began after a delay of nearly two hours. Initially only officials from the police, PWD and the BDO were present. Officials from the electricity department and drinking water department arrived later to disconnect power and water connections.

However, authorities then faced difficulty interpreting the checklist and panchanama reports prepared in 2014, as these failed to specify the exact illegalities.

After lengthy consultations, authorities decided to reduce the height of a wall that had exceeded 1.5 metres in one case, while in the second case it was resolved to dismantle only the roof.

Panchayat secretary Allaudin Maniyar said the execution was being carried out as per court orders and added that the panchanama was prepared in 2014. He said he had sought clarification from higher authorities regarding the execution.

Responding to allegations by scrapyard owners that permissions were denied to operate legally, panch member Sandeep Naik said the panchayat could not grant permission for handling hazardous waste in a residential area and therefore could not permit scrapyards.

Sarpanch Joycee Dias said the demolitions had been pending for many years due to a stay, which has now been vacated. She said the demolition drive will continue on Thursday, with two more scrapyards scheduled for demolition. She said many of these issues would have been resolved had the government allocated land within industrial estates for scrapyard operations, as discussed in the Assembly last year.

“Scrapyards operating in residential areas put the lives of residents at risk due to pollution and health hazards, as no safety measures are in place,” she said.