PONDA: The loss-making unit of the Goa Dairy suffered another blow with after a blast rocked its cattle feed plant causing major losses. The pipeline and valves connected to the molasses preparation tank of the cattle feed plant suddenly exploded at around 5.45 pm yesterday, and 30,000 metric tonnes of molasses worth Rs 10 lakh was washed away.
A major tragedy was fortunately averted as labourers had just left the site after duty.
The molasses is purchased from sugar factories and stored in the plant to mix in cattle feed. Following the explosion, Goa Dairy Chairman Rajesh Faldesai and other directors rushed to the spot and inspected the plant.
Faldesai charged that this has happened because the work done on the dairy plant a year ago was not up to the mark and demanded that those guilty be booked.
Faldesai also claimed that there has been a loss of around Rs 10 lakh due to the explosion and charged that the tanks built during the tenure of three member Administrative Committee only prove that the work done was of substandard quality.
“Initially a tender for the repair of tanks was issued at Rs eight lakhs but later a fresh tender was issued for Rs 14 lakh. The material used was of poor quality which led to the blast today,” said Faldesai.
