Yet hazardous waste remains in Plot No L-2 MARGAO: The South Goa district authorities on Thursday unsealed one of the two plots owned by The Axis in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, but there seems no urgency on the part of the authorities to either treat or remove the tons of hazardous waste stored in the second plot. A team headed by Deputy Collector, Margao Surendra Naik descended at the industrial estate around noon and removed the seal from plot No L-3. Plot No L-2 owned by The Axis, which is playing host to tons of hazardous waste, will remain sealed. In fact, the Goa State Pollution Control Board while asking the District Collector to remove the seal of plot No L-3, has also asked him to ensure that no hazardous waste is stored in plot no L-2 at the industrial estate. While the deputy collector and his team complied with the Goa State Pollution Control Board directions, questions are being raised as to when and how authorities would ensure removal or treatment of hazardous waste in Plot No L-2 at the industrial estate. While the Goa State Pollution Control Board had ordered sealing of the two plots to stop handling of hazardous waste at the site, there seems no solution forthcoming from the government agencies vis-à-vis the waste lying at the estate. In July last, the Cuncolim police had registered a case against Ms Sunrise Zinc, SBI, Stressed Management, Mumbai and The Axis, based on an FIR lodged by the GSPCB. Since then, no waste has been treated or lifted away by the authorities. The GSPCB had initially issued directions to the IDC to handle the waste and later directed The Axis against handling hazardous waste, but these measures have failed to change the ground reality till date. Meanwhile, the GSPCB had directed the management of The Axis to ensure that upon removal of the seal at Plot No L-3 at the estate, the hazardous waste stored at Plot No L-2 is not handled or removed. The GSPCB has warned of legal action against the management under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 if they fail to comply with the directions.