District authorities push blame on State
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 7
Caught on the wrong foot over the delay in arranging a heavy duty crane to tow away the ill-fated tanker at Ambora on Sunday, district authorities sought to push the blame on the state authorities for sitting on a file to make available a dedicated crane at the disposal of the district disaster management authority.
In fact, a senior district official told Herald that the proposal towards the purchase of a dedicated heavy duty crane is pending with the State authorities since the last two years. The official further said the district authority has enough funds at its disposal to make the purchase without seeking any grant-in-aid from the government.
“A dedicated heavy duty crane is a dire necessity when incidents involving hazardous chemical tankers have become a routine phenomenon, especially in South Goa. Is it not for the State government to take appropriate decision”, remarked the official.
In fact, various agencies associated with the Disaster Management Plan have supported the proposal for a dedicated heavy duty crane. Incidentally, the district administration is sitting on another suggestion to explore the possibility of directing all hazardous chemical tankers to take Konkan Railway Corporation’s Rail On Rail Off Service to reach their destinations in Goa in view of the road mishaps in recent times.
