the goan I network
PONDA
Barely a day after the soft launch of the sugarcane crushing season of Sanjeevani Sahakar Sakhar Karkhana at Dharbandora, the official launch scheduled on Saturday was cancelled due to a reported snag in the machinery.
The Karkhana staff had performed a pooja on Thursday in the presence of farmers to mark the launch of the crushing season.
Gomantak Us Utpadak Sanghatana President Rajendra Jivaji Desai had told The Goan that the official function was scheduled on Saturday. Desai, however, confirmed on Friday that the event would not take place on Saturday.
“Crushing operations are running very slow and hence, the event scheduled on Saturday has been cancelled. It will take about four days to assess the machinery,” Desai told The Goan.
Asked specifically if the Karkhana had faced technical problems, Desai reiterated that the crushing operation had been running at slow pace, but sources claimed that the machinery had developed a snag.
Desai also informed tha two key posts were vacant in the Karkhana. “How can this Karkhana function without a chief engineer and chemist? We will have to request the government to fill these posts,” said Desai.
Officials at the Kharkhana were not available for comments in the matter.
Speaking to The Goan on Thursday, Agriculture Officer Sadanand Sangodkar had admitted that the machinery was old and that they would be monitoring the machinery over the next 24 hours.
“Our only concern is regarding the old machinery which is in operation. You never know when a snag can take place. However, we take good care of the machinery by servicing them regularly,” he had said on Thursday.
The Kharkhana had begun sugarcane crushing operations on Thursday after a delay, after the factory had received permission from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The CPCB had earlier issued a closure order to the Karkhana for failing to install online continuous monitoring station for effluent and stack emissions. The CPCB, however, revoked its order on Wednesday and had granted permission to the Karkhana to begin the crushing season, after the Karkhana installed the required systems.
