PONDA: In its first gram sabha since the pandemic, the Kavlem panchayat in Ponda taluka has resolved to remove scrapyards from Dhavali. The scrapyards are dangerous as they deal in hazardous chemicals and are located in close vicinity of petrol stations, the gram sabha stated.
The work of removing the scrapyards was delayed due to a court stay and the panchayat is in the process of getting the stay lifted, sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar said.
The scrapyards have been operating in Dhavali for over two decades and several attempts have been made to remove them over the years. Then Ponda deputy collector had even sealed some of them.
Then sub divisional magistrate of Ponda Jayant Tari had passed an order in 2008 for closure of some of the scrapyards with immediate effect. The order was served as they had disobeyed the injunction order issued by the SDM court on September 26, 2008, prohibiting them from dumping scrap at the site.
The gramsabha also discussed the increasing incidence of littering across the village. Kavlekar told the villagers that the panchayat has already moved a proposal to have a garbage treatment plant in the village at a cost of Rs 45 lakh under the 14th finance commission. “We have identified a place and process is going on to get the land transferred”, Kavlekar said.