Margao: CM Pramod Sawant on Friday said the lifting of hazardous waste lying at Cuncolim Industrial Estate for the last two decades will begin from May 1, adding Rs 13 crore will be spent on the exercise.More than 50,000 metric tonnes of hazardous waste at Cuncolim Estate is legacy material of Sunrise Zinc Limited, which ceased operations in 2007 following High Court directions. Despite provisions being made in the budget for 2025-26, the waste disposal plan was awaiting state approval.“This is a legacy waste that I am cleaning, just as I did with the legacy municipal solid waste in Sonsoddo in Margao,” Sawant said at a public meeting in Cuncolim after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of several development projects in the constituency.Opposition leader and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao was also present on the occasion.The CM said that no red category industry will be allowed to be set up in Cuncolim Industrial Estate. Referring to the waste management infrastructure established during his seven-year tenure – which includes biomedical, chemical and municipal solid waste – he said his government is committed to maintaining the beauty of Goa. He said, “Goa is a globally recognized tourist destination. If we want to maintain its beauty, government efforts alone will not suffice; every Goan has to ensure that his actions do not harm the environment.”Sawant urged residents to stop throwing plastic bags filled with wet waste in the open. “Keep the wet waste under a tree – it will turn into compost. Hand over the dry waste to the waste collectors of your panchayat or municipality,” he said. The CM also asked people not to pack fish waste in plastic bags and throw it in the open. “You can rid yourself of the stench, but it is an unpleasant sight for passersby. If we don’t correct ourselves now, we won’t be able to preserve the beauty of Goa for future generations,” he said.Sawant laid the foundation stone of a 15-bed urban primary health center at Cuncolim, which he said would be completed within one and a half years and would be equipped with all necessary facilities. He also laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Chieftains Memorial Park and construction of Panchayat houses for Guirdolim and Paroda and underground cabling works at Chandor and Guirdolim. A futsal field in Madicoto and a wellness center in Cuncolim Municipality were inaugurated on the occasion.