CANACONA
Amid claims by the contractor that molasses was dumped into excavated pits with the knowledge of Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, Dy Collector Pratap Naikgaunkar and Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar, all three denied any knowledge of the activity, or even having met the contractor.
The deputy collector later directed the police to register offences against those responsible for the activity.
Speaking to a representative of the contractor in the presence of people gathered at the site, Tawadkar said he had neither spoken to the contractor nor had met him.
Canacona Dy Collector Pratap Naikgaunkar also denied any knowledge of the activity, stating that an order had been issued to transport, and not dump, the contents of the tank.
Voicing support to locals opposing the dumping of molasses into excavated pits, Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar said no permission had been obtained from the panchayat.
“Not even a drop of molasses should be dumped in the village,” said the sarpanch.
Tawadkar then turned towards Dy Collector Pratap Ngaunkar and asked him to submit a report to the collector immediately, adding that he would speak to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the matter.
A short while later, Naikgaunkar directed Canacona PI Harish Raut Desai to identify those involved in dumping of molasses in open pits and to register an offence against them.
