Goa, Aug. 15 -- In a major step to tighten hazardous waste management, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday announced that all waste-generating industries in Goa must now sign bi-partite agreements with Ponda Envocare Limited, the operator of the Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF) at Pissurlem.

Under the new directive, industries will be prohibited from sending hazardous waste outside Goa, and any illegal dumping in public spaces or water bodies will attract heavy fines and stern punitive action.

Sawant revealed that of the roughly 350 industries producing hazardous waste in the State, only around 50 currently dispose of waste at the Pissurlem facility. "Almost 90 per cent of the industries are...