Team Herald
VASCO: The confusion over whether to tow and refloat the grounded pontoon or to cut the same has finally been cleared as a formal decision has been taken to allow the salvage team to cut the pontoon after it is towed towards the beach, and the task will be completed before the monsoons hit.
The decision was taken after a crucial meeting called by RDA Minister and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha at her constituency office in Cansaulim on Monday.
During the meeting, it was informed that Arihant Ship Breakers, which owns the pontoon, had initially decided to refloat and pull the grounded pontoon from Arossim beach towards the ocean with the help of a tug. However, a recent survey of the pontoon found that, due to bad weather, high tide and continuous pounding of high waves, the pontoon’s welding had given away, causing huge ingress of sea water and sand, and therefore, the condition of the pontoon had become worse.
It was also brought to their notice that the surveyors were of the opinion that, in case the pontoon was refloated and pulled towards the ocean, then it might break and sink either near the coast or close to coast, which can cause a navigational hazard, and thus, the best thing was to scrap the pontoon at its position and clear it from the Arossim beach.
Initially, those present for the meeting were of the opinion that, as the survey of the pontoon had been conducted by Arihant Ship Breakers and the reports were tailored to suit the company, there was a need to have another survey to assess the damage and then to take a final decision on the issue.
To this, Dr Antonio Mascarenhas claimed that there was hardly any time left for the monsoons and the salvage work needed to be completed before May 20, 2016.
“If there is any further delay, then the pontoon might sink more and then it will lead to serious environmental damage to the beach,” Mascarenhas said.
Kapil Fadte, an engineer appointed by the Mormugao deputy collector to look into the pontoon issue, informed that the owner of Arihant Ship Breakers, Sanjeev Jain, had applied for permission to break the pontoon with the assurance that the beach would be cleared from all residuals of the pontoon.
“After consulting the panch members and local fishermen, it has been decided that the pontoon will be cut and the company will be allowed to pull the pontoon towards the beach, provided the salvage company gives an affidavit that the beach will be cleared of all residuals of the pontoon,” Alina told reporters.
Also, as fishermen had raised apprehension over the pontoon residuals and their adverse effect on the beach, a committee comprising of panchas, fishermen and government officials was formed. The new committee will personally monitor the salvage operations and will hold a meeting every Thursday until the pontoon is removed from Arossim beach.
Meanwhile, it was also brought to the notice of those at the meeting that the South Collector has asked the Tourism Department officials to hold the pending payments of Arihant Ship Breakers, which salvaged the River Princess ship, besides holding a vigilance inquiry into the whole episode of permission issued to hold a beach wedding and use the pontoon for the same.
The meeting was attended by Premlal A Sirsaiker – Deputy Captain of Ports, Sanje
