Canacona: With the monsoon approaching, residents of Shristhal and nearby areas have raised concerns that the large quantity of molasses effluent remaining at the Shristhal Industrial Estate could overflow into nearby water bodies and cause environmental contamination.Officials had earlier assured residents that the molasses effluent stored in a damaged tank would be removed before the structure was dismantled to prevent any threat to the environment.On Saturday, it was observed that only half of the damaged tank had been dismantled. While a substantial quantity of molasses effluent has been transferred to nearby pits dug within the industrial estate, large amounts remain stored in the partially dismantled tank.The molasses effluent stored in ground tanks, pits and the partially dismantled tank has been covered with tarpaulin sheets. The ground tanks and pits have also been secured with barbed-wire fencing, and a signboard has been installed by the deputy collector of Canacona.However, with the monsoon around the corner, residents and activists fear that heavy rainfall could cause the effluent to overflow and seep into nearby water bodies, resulting in large-scale ecological damage. They said any overflow would contaminate water bodies and agricultural fields, creating serious environmental hazards.“The then Canacona deputy collector had assured that the entire stock of molasses effluent would be shifted from the damaged tank, which was to be dismantled simultaneously,” said Pawan Tubki. “However, this has not been done, and the molasses effluent stored in ground-dug tanks and pits has raised serious concerns. Residents demand immediate action from the authorities concerned to avoid an environmental disaster.”Photo caption: The partially dismantled molasses effluent tank at Shristhal Industrial Estate, Canacona.
Attachment
Attachment
