Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: In a dramatic turn of events over allegations of illegal molasses dumping, Canacona MLA and Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Dy. Collector Pratap Naikgaunkar, and Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar have all denied any knowledge or involvement in the contractor’s actions, even as public outrage grew on Saturday.
The controversy erupted after a contractor allegedly claimed that the discharge of liquid molasses into excavated pits was done with the full knowledge of the minister, the SDM, and the sarpanch. However, all three categorically refuted the claim.
Tawadkar, pointing towards the contractor’s representative during a tense confrontation, dismissed the allegations saying, “Main toh tumhe mila nahi, na jaanta hoon. Main tum logon ko pehchanta hi nahi” (“I have never met you nor do I know who you are. I don’t even recognize you”). The minister’s remark came while locals grilled the representative on what authority the contractor had to dump the contents despite only having permission to transport the tank material.
Dy. Collector Pratap Naikgaunkar also clarified that the administration had merely issued an order for transportation of the tank contents, not for dumping them. “We were never informed of any such act,” he said.
Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar, aligning with villagers opposing the dumping, expressed strong disapproval: “Nothing has been informed to us. They have taken no permission from the panchayat. Not even a drop of this content should be dumped in the village.”
As tempers flared, Minister Tawadkar directed the SDM to submit an immediate report to the Collector and informed the crowd that he would be taking up the matter directly with the Chief Minister.
Shortly afterward, with unrest building among the aggrieved residents, SDM/Dy. Collector Pratap Naikgaunkar issued instructions to Canacona PI Harish Raut Desai to identify those responsible for dumping the molasses and register criminal offences against them.
Police action is now awaited as the investigation begins into how the dumping occurred, and under whose authority.
