Angry locals confront dy collector, police over inaction to tackle situation
Waste molasses flowing into the Khalwadem rivulet in Shristhal on Wednesday evening.
CANACONA
Chaos and worry spread in Shristhal on Wednesday evening after waste molasses from a tank being dismantled at the Shristhal Industrial Estate flowed into the Khalwadem rivulet.
Residents confronted Canacona officials and police, accusing them of failing to act and not taking precautionary environmental measures despite knowing the risks.
The dismantling of the damaged tank had begun on Tuesday, a day after a bull was rescued from a pit filled with molasses near the site. During the work, a badly rusted portion of the tank collapsed, releasing the waste into the open.
Shristhal locals confronting Canacona Dy Collector Prataprao Gaonkar and Mamlatdar Gajesh Shirodkar outside the partially dismantled tank.
Supervisors said workers were cutting one part of the structure when a large panel suddenly gave way. The molasses spread in the area and a strong smell was reported.
Early Wednesday, women working in chilli and vegetable fields at Khalwadem noticed that the rivulet water, used for irrigation, had turned reddish. They saw the contaminated water entering their fields. Some women complained of irritation on their hands and legs after coming in contact with the water.
The rivulet flows below the hillock where the industrial estate is located, and farms lie about a kilometre from the rear of the tank.
A farmer feared the pollution would damage crops and also affect marine life in the Talpona river and further downstream into the sea.
Shristhal Bio-diversity Management Committee chairman Vinay Tubki blamed the authorities, saying the disaster had been waiting to happen.
“Taluka authorities are fully responsible for not doing enough in taking precautionary measures. Despite our reluctance, authorities permitted the company to empty large amounts of molasses waste in trenches and other ground tanks in the same vicinity,” said Tubki.
“Authorities and company representatives had assured us that no waste taken out from the tank would be left in the industrial estate, but that the tank would be emptied and the molasses would be moved elsewhere. Instead, the molasses was stored in trenches and some ground tanks in the vicinity.”
Tubki said he has informed the Biodiversity Board and the Goa State Pollution Control Board, which have assured quick action.
Deputy Collector Prataprao Gaonkar, DySP Nilesh Rane and Mamlatdar Gajesh Shirodkar reached the spot and tried to calm residents. Canacona PI Pravin Gawas and other police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.
Company asked to submit plan to dismantle tank, waste disposal
CANACONA: Canacona Deputy Collector Prataprao Gaonkar and DySP Nilesh Rane have asked the company to submit an action plan by Thursday. The plan must explain how the tank will be dismantled and how the waste will be removed without causing any more environmental problems in the area.
Company officials said the tank had already developed cracks and had tilted to one side. Because of this, about half of the material inside was moved to nearby tanks and trenches. The upper portion was then taken up for dismantling to prevent further damage.
A company representative said that while workers were cutting one of the metal plates, a large section of the tank collapsed, leading to waste molasses seeping into the open.
