Agnelo doubts Princess removal before monsoon
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 12
While State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has decided to float a fresh tender for removal of M V River Princess, Calangute MLA, Agnelo Fernandes has stated that he is doubtful whether the government will succeed in getting the vessel removed even this time.
“I’m doubtful whether the vessel will be removed before the onset of monsoon,” said Calangute MLA while speaking to Herald on Tuesday.
Unlike the last tender – this time it will be a closed tender with terms – seeking bank guarantee of Rs 10 crore, no cure –no pay, outer limit of June 1 (six months for removal of the vessel).
The Calangute MLA said stringent conditions may put off potential bidders.
“What if nobody comes forward due to time constraint as the outer limit does not leave much time for the bidder,” he said.
And even if the government succeeds in finalizing a bidder by mid-November the work will not start immediately as the bidder will require some time to mobilize resources, he pointed out.
This means – if all goes well the actual work of removing the vessel will start in December. On the other hand the government is running short of time in light of the High Court directive.
On September 8, a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa had directed the government to start work on removal of the grounded M V River Princess within a period of two months.
This means, the government has now time till November 7 to finalize a bidder. But the question remains whether it will succeed?
