Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: The long-awaited dismantling and removal of the controversial and defunct waste molasses tank at Shristhal Industrial Estate finally commenced on Tuesday, bringing relief to anxious residents who have long feared an environmental disaster.
Technicians, assisted by a specialised crane and industrial cutters, began the systematic cutting and removal of the massive, corroded tank that had been lying unused for years. The structure, which once stored lakhs of litres of molasses belonging to a now-defunct liquor factory, had reportedly developed dangerous cracks and was at risk of collapsing.
The dismantling work gathered urgency after Canacona Fire Services were called to the site to rescue a bull that had fallen into a foul-smelling, molasses-filled trench dug adjacent to the tank.
According to sources, the trench had been excavated to collect leaking waste molasses from the deteriorating tank. However, the dugout was allegedly left inadequately secured, with only green shade nets covering parts of it. In the darkness of Monday-Tuesday night, the stray bull is believed to have stepped onto the net covering and fallen into the neck-deep toxic sludge.
Locals reportedly heard the animal struggling and alerted emergency services. Fire personnel from Canacona, acting on instructions received from the Panaji control room, rushed to the spot. With the assistance of a crane, they successfully lifted the bull out of the trench. The animal was completely drenched in the sticky waste and was later washed down with water by the fire personnel before it slowly regained strength and walked away. Concerns, however, remain about possible health effects, as the toxic substance may have entered the animal’s nostrils and stomach.
Meanwhile, work on dismantling the dilapidated tank is progressing, with several major plates already removed. Residents of the area expressed relief, stating that the removal of the hazardous structure would eliminate a long-standing environmental and safety threat.
GFP leader and Chairman of the Environment Cell, Vikas Bhagat, who visited the site to inspect the operation, said the tank’s removal is a significant relief for both people and the environment. He noted that the leaking molasses and open trenches posed a serious threat of contamination to nearby agricultural lands, rivers and even coastal waters. Locals had also feared a possible explosion due to the unstable and corroded condition of the tank, which was reportedly still holding substantial quantities of molasses.
