CUNCOLIM: Residents of Cuncolim aare threatening to launch a fresh movement to remove hazardous waste from Sunrise Zinc, located in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, if their demands are not met. They have also called for the resignation of Cuncolim councillors if they cannot address the issue.
Local youth leaders Khabir Moraes, Shukla Kenny, Avi Dessai, Manju Shriwant, and Jerriton Dias are spearheading the movement, emphasising that the hazardous waste has been left unattended for 16 years. They argue that the waste continues to pollute the fertile land surrounding the industrial estate and poses a threat to the groundwater.
These activists previously raised issues regarding the foul odour from untreated waste at fish processing plants and are now prioritising the removal of the hazardous waste.
The residents pointed out that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had initially estimated the cost of transferring the waste to the Pissurlem landfill site at Rs 13 crore. However, no progress has been made. The locals also noted that the cumulative cost of covering the waste with tarpaulin over the years could have offset the cost of transferring it to the landfill site.
The residents are urging the Cuncolim Municipal Council to take immediate action. They have warned that failure to address this issue seriously will result in a demand for the councillors to resign. Moreover, they have threatened to initiate a people’s movement to ensure the waste is relocated.
