The removal of hazardous waste from the Cuncolim industrial estate, which began on May 2, has encountered a significant obstacle as residents of Curchorem have started stopping trucks transporting the waste through populated areas of the town. The residents cited overloading, absence of required permits, and the risk of spillage as primary reasons for their actions. Locals have warned that they will launch an agitation if the reckless transportation is not immediately controlled.
Background of the Waste Issue
The waste in question is zinc extract process residue left behind by Sunrise Zinc Ltd after it ceased operations in 2007 following a High Court order. For nearly two decades, this residue has remained at the Cuncolim industrial estate, causing contamination of wells and widespread health problems among nearby residents. The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) initiated a phased removal operation on May 2, with plans to transport the material to the facility at Pissurlem for processing and disposal.
Concerns Raised by Activists
Activist Dattaraj Raut Dessai highlighted that the trucks were operating without valid permits from the concerned authorities. He pointed out that the vehicles were overloaded, increasing the chances of waste spillage onto roads. According to Raut Dessai, the guidelines for transporting hazardous waste require such material to be carried in sealed bags and loaded into airtight compactors, not open box-type trucks. He warned that during the rainy season, runoff from spilled waste could flow into fields and water bodies, contaminating them and posing a serious risk to residents' lives.
Call for Immediate Action
Raut Dessai called on the GWMC and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to intervene immediately and halt the improper transportation. He stated, "If such reckless transportation continues, we will have no option but to launch an agitation." The GWMC's operation, costing Rs 13 crore, involves clearing over 50,000 metric tonnes of legacy waste.
