11 Sep 2019 | 05:59am IST
Industries violating waste management rules: audit
PANJIM: The inventory audit conducted of the industries producing hazardous waste in the State, has exposed that the current practice followed by most of these units are not in accordance with the latest Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, thus making it difficult for the State Pollution Authority to identify the defaulters and act upon.
In a document released on 'Challenges and Issues' faced by the State on the Hazardous Waste Management, it has been stated that at present, Goa state does not have Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF) and hence the waste generated in the State is sent to other States for final scientific disposal /treatment.
The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) along with Goa Industries Environmental Association (GIEA) is setting up facility at Pissurlem for 25,000 tonnes per day treatment of waste.
The State has around 1029 industrial units that generate hazardous waste. There are 1018 industries involved in producing incineration waste, 918 create recyclable waste and 310 are into land-fillable waste.
“Current practice which is followed by most of the Industries in Goa is not in accordance with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, instead it was observed that units are adhered to the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008,” the report stated.
The manifest system consist of seven copies that terminates in close loop for the transportation of hazardous waste, are not maintained by the companies.
“This current practice followed by the industries doesn’t help the Goa State Pollution control Board (GSPCB) to find defaulters, monitor illegal disposal of waste, quantity of HW generated etc,” the report said adding that some units are also involved in providing inaccurate data to GSPCB.
At present, the incinerator waste is being disposed by sending it to Maharashtra plant, while the recyclable waste goes to Kerala.
