CANACONA
Alert locals on Tuesday stopped three trucks from transporting scrap material from the partially dismantled molasses tank at Shristhal Industrial Estate.
Authorities later detained the three vehicles in this connection.
According to sources, around five MP-registered trucks arrived at Shristhal Industrial Estate and were noticed stationed near the partially dismantled tank containing molasses, while a JCB was loading scrap material of the partially dismantled tank into the trucks.
By afternoon, two loaded trucks had already left, while the JCB was in the process of loading a third truck with the scrap. Some alert locals rushed to the site and demanded a halt to the loading process. They then reported the suspicious activity to the Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar.
As more people gathered at the site and the loading process continued unabated, a police team arrived and ordered the stoppage of loading activity.
Former Shristhal sarpanch Prashant Desai stated that Tawadkar then instructed the deputy collector to stop further transportation of scrap materials from the site. The police team was then directed to stop the loading process and detain the vehicles.
When locals had earlier raised concerns that the scrap material could be taken away, leaving vast amounts of molasses behind in large pits and some of the existing ground tanks in the vicinity, authorities had assured locals that not a single piece of scrap would be allowed to move unless the entire stock of molasses was removed from the site.
Speaking to reporters at the site, Prashant Desai blamed authorities for not being serious about public safety.
“When our MLA and even then Dy Collector have assured us that not a single piece of scrap would be moved out before the transfer of molasses, how were the vehicles brought to the site, and how did two trucks leave with scrap material?” asked Desai.
Locals later warned that they would not allow the removal of scrap material from the partially dismantled molasses tank at Shristhal Industrial Estate until the entire stock of molasses waste in the tank and stored in ground tanks and pits is transferred out of the site.
“There is strong fear that the molasses waste will find its way to the nearby stream and reach the Talpona river, causing an environmental disaster in the area. Without the removal of this hazardous material, we will not allow the company to take away the scrap material from the site,” said a local.
