Revenue Minister, Atanasio Babush Monserrate, announced recently that the government is set to establish a committee tasked with identifying specific land solely designated for scrapyards. Addressing reporters at Mantralaya, Porvorim, Monserrate emphasised the need for scrapyards to operate on registered land, highlighting that currently, only 269 scrapyards are officially registered with the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). He stressed the importance of legalising the existing 800-plus scrapyards or compelling them to cease operations.
Monserrate disclosed the government’s plan to formulate a policy outlining the framework for legalising scrapyards and designating appropriate land. The proposed committee, chaired by Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Chairman and MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, will be instrumental in identifying suitable land for this purpose. Once identified, the land will undergo acquisition and subsequently be handed over to the IDC for infrastructure development.
Additionally, the committee will play a crucial role in identifying and urging illegal scrapyards to register themselves with the GSPCB. Monserrate underscored the significance of aligning scrapyards with environmental regulations and ensuring their compliance with state pollution control measures.
