MARGAO
Come this weekend, residents of Cuncolim are bracing for what could be a long-awaited turning point in a saga that has dragged on for over 15 years ” the removal of nearly 35,000 tonnes of hazardous zinc waste dumped at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate by Sunrise Zinc.
The renewed sense of anticipation follows a recent assurance from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who, during his visit to Cuncolim, announced that the State government would initiate the long-pending process of transporting the toxic waste beginning May 1.
Since that announcement, attention has sharply turned to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), the agency tasked with executing the operation. Questions have been raised over whether the corporation will adhere to the Chief Minister’s timeline and begin transporting the waste to the hazardous waste treatment facility at Pissurlem as promised.
The issue has gained urgency for two key reasons. First, with the monsoon season fast approaching, the window for safely transporting hazardous material is rapidly narrowing, as such operations are typically halted during heavy rains. Second, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is under directions from the High Court to ensure that the existing waste dump is securely covered before the onset of the monsoon to prevent environmental contamination.
Sources within the GWMC indicate that preparations are indeed underway to commence the transportation process in line with the Chief Minister’s commitment. However, officials privately acknowledge that the initial phase of the operation may be short-lived.
A senior GWMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the appointed contractor is expected to begin work either on May 1 or May 2. “May 1 is observed as Labour Day, so it is more likely that the operation will start on May 2,” the official said.
The official further clarified that the transportation exercise is expected to continue only for a limited period, possibly until around May 20. “Given the proximity of the monsoon, we may have to suspend the operation by May 20. This will allow the GSPCB to step in and cover the waste dump with tarpaulin sheets to prevent rainwater seepage and further environmental damage,” he explained.
Once the monsoon season concludes, the GWMC is expected to resume the removal process, likely between October and November, and continue until the entire stockpile of hazardous waste is cleared from the site.
For the people of Cuncolim, who have lived with the environmental and health concerns associated with the toxic dump for years, they are indeed looking forward to the government setting in motion the long-delayed process to rid the industrial estate of the hazardous waste.
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Cuncolim clean-up may cost govt up to Rs 14 cr
MARGAO: Goa is set to undertake what could be its largest-ever operation to transport hazardous waste to a landfill site, with the exercise expected to place a significant financial burden on the State exchequer.
Officials familiar with the matter estimate that the entire operation will cost the government between Rs 13 crore and Rs 14 crore. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant acknowledged the high cost, stating that while the exercise will “cost a bomb”, the government remains committed to removing hazardous waste from the Cuncolim Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) area, citing concerns over public health and environmental safety.
The effort has been years in the making. Around three years ago, the government had issued a sanction letter allocating Rs five crore to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for the project. However, the funds were never released, resulting in significant delays.
There was progress after Levinson Martins assumed office as chairman of the GSPCB last year. Under his leadership, the board decided to partially finance the operation using funds collected under the “polluter pays” principle.
As part of this initiative, the board sanctioned Rs two crore to the Goa Waste Management Corporation to begin transporting hazardous waste from Cuncolim IDC to the Pissurlem hazardous waste landfill site.
The long-pending exercise is now expected to move forward, marking a crucial step in addressing environmental and public health concerns in the area.
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Toxic truth: NEERI finding ends Cuncolim indecision
MARGAO: After years of delay and indecision, a crucial scientific finding has finally prompted the government to take a call on the hazardous waste dump at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
For years, successive governments had largely paid lip service to persistent demands from residents of Cuncolim to remove the waste dump left behind by Sunrise Zinc Ltd around 2008-09.
At one stage, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had even considered remediating the waste at the site itself, arguing that prolonged exposure to natural elements may have reduced its hazardous nature.
However, a decisive turning point came in 2025 when the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) confirmed that the approximately 35,000 tonnes of waste at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate remains hazardous.
NEERI, which conducted the study at the request of the GSPCB, recommended that the waste be disposed of through a scientifically safe mechanism. The institute had been brought in by the board in late 2024 to carry out a detailed assessment to determine whether the material could be treated and reused or required secure disposal.
The findings effectively ruled out on-site remediation, prompting the government to proceed with plans to transport the waste to a designated hazardous landfill facility.
