MARGAO
Government agencies, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), must decide whether government support should be extended to address the legacy molasses waste issue at the Canacona Industrial Estate, similar to the assistance provided for hazardous zinc waste at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
The issue has gained significance after the distillery urged the GSPCB, GIDC and the Deputy Collector of Canacona to apply the same principle of institutional responsibility that was used in the Cuncolim case.
In its representation, the company pointed out that the Goa Government recently undertook the disposal of around 50,000 metric tonnes of hazardous waste left behind by M/s Sunrise Zinc at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate at a reported cost of Rs 13-15 crore. It noted that the government recognised that the current occupants of the site were not responsible for generating the waste.
“The material at our site has been officially confirmed as non-hazardous by the GSPCB through its NOC. We submit that the same principle of institutional responsibility for legacy industrial waste applies here,” the company stated.
The company has appealed to the GIDC, Goa Waste Management Corporation and GSPCB to take custody of the remaining waste and use public resources to clear, dewater and remediate the site.
Canacona Deputy Collector Karmali confirmed receipt of the representation but said the decision on whether the molasses waste should be treated on par with the Cuncolim waste rests with the GIDC and the GSPCB.
According to the company, the molasses waste has remained at the site for nearly 20 years.
