CANACONA
A huge tank storing molasses belonging to an alcohol factory which shut down operations about two decades ago at the Canacona Industrial Estate at Shristhal further tilted on one side on Thursday, sparking concerns of a major public health hazard in the area.
A fire and emergency team has been kept on standby at the site.
The strong smell of molasses began to spread in the locality by Thursday morning, even as teams from IDC, Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) inspected the tank in the presence of Speaker/MLA (Canacona) Ramesh Tawadkar, Canacona Dy Collector Prataprao Gaunkar, Mamlatdar and others, besides the presence of new lease owners of the IDC plot, NTS Pvt. Ltd.
“Two things have been asked with immediate effect, to drone-film the tank and to conduct its structural stability test, as well as to take out the contents in a safe manner,” informed Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.
Dy Collector Prataprao Gaunkar said all steps were being taken to avert any disaster and to avoid any risk to human life.
According to officials from IDC and the Goa State Pollution Control Board, instructions were already given to previous lease owners Sidhi Multi-Trade Pvt Ltd, who got this property, which was previously owned by Penguin Alcohol Pvt Ltd, to remove/empty the molasses from the tank.
“About 700 tonnes of molasses was already taken out from the tank by the firm,” said a source.
On June 3, the IDC wrote to Sidhi Multi-Trade to remove the remaining molasses and empty the tank even, as the process to get a new lease owner was underway.
“Only a day ago, the paperwork to transfer the IDC plot lease to NTS Pvt Ltd was finalised.”
“The drone filming survey and structural stability test of the huge tank will be conducted by the new firm NTS Pvt. Ltd.,” informed sources.
According to the new lease owners, only a quarter of the tank is filled with molasses, as more than 700 tonnes had been removed by the previous lease owner.
“We will try our best to remove the remaining molasses and transfer it safely and without causing any environmental disaster,” a source from the NTS Pvt. Ltd said.
Locals fear that if the tank bursts before the remaining molasses is removed, the molasses will flow into neighbouring houses and will also enter the nearby seasonal rivulet, which makes its way into the Talpona/Kushavati river, before entering into the sea at the Talpona coast.
