From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News-Network - Goa

Margao, Jan 24: All Goa Scrap-yard Dealers Association took out a protest march in Margao on 23 January at 3.30 pm, against the government decision of razing down the scrap-yards and demanded to relocate scrap-dealers to an alternative place.

Recently around nine scrap-yards, which were under the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) were razed down by MMC.

The march headed by Association secretary Sayed Abdul Aziz along with  300-plus agitators from all over Goa, took a march up to the Collector's office and submitted a memorandum copy which said that the Municipality and Panchayat should stop their action against scrap-dealers and also that the government should work to relocate scrap-yards, by allotting them an alternative place to operate their business.

While speaking to Daijiworld correspondent,  Aziz said that, as per the conditions of Central Pollution Control Board, there should not be any scrap-yard in the vicinity of residential area and petrol pumps. Storing chemical scrap in open yards may create serious pollution problems.

For this reason, the government. had assured the association that the scrap-yards would be shifted. However, the government has not taken any step towards it but instead sidelined our issue.

The association, with a membership of 300 scrap-yards,  claims that they have provided around 4 thousand jobs through their business.

The association members revealed that the purpose of forming the association was to settle people from the minority community and those belonging economically backward classes. There are also plans to build schools and hospitals for these people, but they have alleged that government had not supported them in this project. 

They have also given an ultimatum to the government that that they would continue the agitation until their demands are met.