PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Tuesday demanded a high level inquiry into stranded ship Nu Shi Nalini, which was carrying highly explosive naphtha from Pakistan, at Mormugao Port Trust, Vasco.
Congress leaders led by Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat and Sankalp Amonkar met the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and appraised him of the dangerous naphtha that is presently stored at Ganesh Benzoplast Tanks (GBL) in the port town of Vasco.
“The suspicious entry of the said ship in Goan waters and subsequent developments have raised serious questions related to national threat, danger to environment, likely disaster causing danger to human life etc,” the memorandum submitted to the chief minister reads.
Congress added that in view of the above, it is important to conduct a serious high level inquiry related to the above referred vessel.
“We demand that a high level investigation to be ordered into arrival of the said ship including its origin from Pakistan, consignor, consignee, cargo, licences and permissions etc,” the memorandum said.
Congress rejected the decision of the government to ask the Director General of Shipping, to investigate the matter as they argued that DG Shipping is itself responsible for giving permissions to berth the ship at MPT.
“We demand that the investigation should be given to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” Congress leaders added.
Congress also demanded that transportation of naphtha should not be done by road through thickly populated town of Vasco.
“Transportation of naphtha should only be done through an ‘A Class Ship’ by re-pumping the same from the shore tanks to the ship. Since the Cabinet Minister Milind Naik has accused the Chief Secretary of his link with the vessel along with the Mormugao Port Trust Chairman, which is a serious matter, it needs to be investigated through central agencies,” Congress leaders added. Further, the party demanded that an FIR be filed against the MPT chairman as had been promised by the CM itself earlier.
