Team Herald

PANJIM: The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) has granted an environmental clearance (EC) to set up the State’s first Common Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage Facility (CHWTSDF) at Pissurlem Industrial Estate.

The project focuses on secured landfill and incineration of hazardous waste and is to be set up by SMS Envocare Limited and has been directed to carry out ambient air quality monitoring.

In a letter issued to the project proponent on August 1, the Ministry has informed of grant of EC for the project. “The hazardous waste generated by industries has to be collected, transported, treated and disposed in a properly designed CHWTSDF facility,” the government proposal placed before the Committee, states.

The State said that in the absence of a CHWTSDF in Goa, industries have to send their incinerable waste to CHWTSDF, Taloja, Maharashtra which creates a risk to people during transportation of the hazardous waste and landfillable waste is stored within their premises due to unscientific storage facilities.

MoEF has asked the project proponent to develop at least a 10 meter thick greenbelt in the periphery of hazardous waste facility.