The latest covering of the waste mound suggests that the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has temporarily suspended the transportation of the hazardous waste to the treatment, storage and disposal facility at Pissurlem. Sources said the transportation is expected to remain on hold during the monsoon and resume only after the rains, likely around October.
The movement of the waste had resumed on May 2 after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao during his visit to Cuncolim that the long-pending issue would be addressed. The resumption of transportation was seen as a major step towards resolving one of South Goa’s longest-running environmental concerns.
The hazardous zinc waste has been lying at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate since 2008-09 after being left behind by the now-defunct Sunrise Zinc. Despite repeated demands from residents, environmental activists and elected representatives for its complete removal, the waste has remained at the site for years, raising concerns about its impact on the environment and public health.
Since 2009, the GSPCB has been carrying out the annual exercise of covering the waste heap with tarpaulin sheets before the monsoon to comply with High Court directives and reduce the risk of rainwater coming into contact with the hazardous material.
However, local residents have repeatedly questioned the effectiveness of this temporary measure. They point out that strong winds and heavy rain often damage the tarpaulin sheets, leaving parts of the waste exposed. Environmental groups and villagers have consistently maintained that the annual exercise provides only a short-term solution and does not address the need for the permanent removal of the waste.
The continued presence of the zinc waste remains a major issue in Cuncolim, with residents alleging that despite repeated assurances over the years, the authorities have failed to find a lasting solution.
