Margao: CM Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the lifting of hazardous waste lying at the Cuncolim industrial estate for the last two decades would begin from May 1, with Rs 13 crore to be spent on the exercise.Over 50,000 metric tonnes of hazardous waste at the Cuncolim estate is legacy material from Sunrise Zinc Ltd, which ceased operations in 2007 following high court directions. The waste disposal plan was awaiting state approval despite provisions being made in the 2025-26 budget.“It’s a legacy waste that I am cleaning up, as I did at Sonsoddo in Margao with the legacy municipal solid waste,” Sawant told a public meeting at Cuncolim after inaugurating and laying foundation stones for a number of development projects in the constituency.Leader of the opposition and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao was also present on the occasion.The CM said no red category industry would be allowed to come up at the Cuncolim industrial estate. Referring to waste management infrastructure set up during his seven-year tenure — including biomedical, chemical and municipal solid waste — he said his govt was committed to maintaining the beauty of Goa. “Goa is a globally recognised tourism destination.
If we want to maintain its beauty, govt efforts alone will not suffice; every Goan must ensure that his actions do not harm the environment,” he said.Sawant urged residents to stop flinging plastic bags filled with wet waste in the open. “Place wet waste under a tree — it will turn into compost. Hand over dry waste to the waste collectors of your panchayat or municipality,” he said. The CM also asked people not to pack fish waste into plastic bags and throw them in the open.
“You may rid yourself of the stench, but for passersby it is an unpleasant sight. If we do not correct ourselves now, we will not be able to preserve the beauty of Goa for posterity,” he said.Sawant laid the foundation stone for a 15-bedded urban primary health centre at Cuncolim, which he said would be completed within a year and a half and equipped with all required facilities. He also laid foundation stones for renovation of Chieftain’s Memorial Park and construction of panchayat ghars for Guirdolim and Paroda, and underground cabling works in Chandor and Guirdolim. A futsal ground at Madicotto and a wellness centre in Cuncolim municipality were inaugurated on the occasion.
