Govt flags non-compliance in hazardous waste disposal

PANAJI
The State government has taken serious note of the fact that over 85 per cent of the major hazardous waste-generating industries have failed to ensure safe treatment and disposal of their waste through the State’s Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF) at Pissurlem.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in a stern warning to these industries, has directed the authorities to crack down on all the violators, while announcing plans to come up with a clear policy decision ensuring 100 per cent regulatory compliance.

Speaking to media persons on Friday, Sawant pointed out that of the total 350 industries involved in hazardous waste generation, only 50 are dumping waste at the Pissurlem facility.

He announced plans to frame a comprehensive policy to monitor and regulate the disposal of all types of waste, including industrial, hazardous, chemical, construction and biomedical.

“We have realised that almost 90 per cent of the industries are not disposing of their hazardous waste at the facility. Only 50 industries are doing that. This will not be tolerated. We have dedicated facilities to handle every type of waste,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the government will tighten measures and stricter fines will be imposed on those failing to use authorised waste management facilities. Sawant had on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the waste management scenario in the State.

Last year, during a review meeting by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), it was noted that there are 377 major hazardous waste-generating industries in the State, of which 101 industries have registered with the Goa Industries Environment Management Association (GIEMA), but only 30 have executed the bi-partite agreement with Ponda Envocare Limited – which operates CHWTSDF – for disposal of the hazardous waste.