Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: With the monsoon just days away, fears of a potential environmental disaster are mounting in Canacona as lakhs of litres of spoiled molasses continue to remain stored in open pits, ground tanks and a partially dismantled storage tank at the Shristhal Industrial Estate.
Residents and activists have raised alarm over the possibility of the waste overflowing during heavy rainfall and contaminating nearby water bodies, agricultural land and the surrounding environment.
Despite earlier assurances from authorities that the spoiled molasses would be safely shifted during the dismantling of the damaged tank, a large quantity of the waste remains at the site. Locals allege that inadequate handling and temporary storage arrangements have increased the environmental risk ahead of the rainy season.
A visit to the industrial estate revealed that only part of the damaged tank has been dismantled, while substantial quantities of spoiled molasses have been transferred to uncovered ground-level pits and storage tanks. The remaining portion continues to stay inside the damaged structure.
The storage areas have been covered with tarpaulin sheets and fenced with barbed wire, while warning boards highlighting the “risk of drowning” have been installed around the site.
Environmental concerns have intensified amid fears that torrential monsoon rain could cause seepage or overflow, allowing the spoiled molasses to enter natural water channels and nearby ecosystems.
Residents have questioned why the hazardous material has not yet been completely removed despite repeated warnings and growing public concern.
Social activists Shubham Komarpant and Pavan Tubki demanded urgent action from authorities, cautioning that any delay could trigger a large-scale ecological crisis in the region.
