High Court to hear River Princess case soon
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 16
The Bombay High Court at Goa will hear the M V River Princess case on Monday, after the government in an oral statement to the court, today said it modified the terms and conditions set before Salgaonkar Mining Industries Private Limited (SMIPL).
The division bench comprising of Justices D G Karnik and F M Reis was hearing the petition filed by River Princess Hatao Manch.
The State representative said that government has asked the SMIPL to hike the bank guarantee to Rs 10 crore from Rs 1 crore.
Besides this, the company has been asked to deposit the money from scraps of the vessel to the court, till the entire vessel is cut into pieces and re-floated.
SMIPL is likely to respond to the government’s fresh modifications by Monday.
SMIPL, the original owner of the ship, has shown interest in moving away the ship. It was supposed to file details of how it would go ahead with the work before the division bench.
As it failed to file the consent terms on Monday, the case was adjourned for September 16.
The bench asked the government to make sure that the vessel is removed before the onset of the next monsoon.
The court, last week, pointed out the report submitted by the Ministry of Earth Science that the vessel has led to immense ecological imbalance at Candolim shore.
A week before last, the State had told the court that SMIPL would be given preference to tow the vessel as they are its actual owners and are ready to take the vessel free of cost. Titan Salvage and M Madgaonkar Salvage are the other two bidders.
RPHM in its advisory committee meeting on Wednesday objected terms put forth by Salgaonkar which has come forward to remove the ship free of cost.
The Manch has meanwhile filed an intervention application in the Salgaonkar’s interim relief application, which will be heard again on Monday.
