Team Herald
PANJIM: Nearly nine days after the Home Department directed the Ports Administration to shift M V Royale Deltin Caravela Floatel from near the Chorao bird sanctuary, following an assurance from Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to the residents of Ribandar; the floatel is set to anchor at an alternative destination at Campal bay.
“M V Royale Floatel, shall be performing a voyage from its present mooring position in River Mandovi, that is off Chorao island, towards the west of both the Mandovi bridges between 6 am to 7 am on August 5, 2016 (Friday) to its new mooring location at Campal Bay,” a press statement issued by Department of Information and Publicity states.
The government has cautioned masters of barges, passenger launches, ferry boats, tindels of fishing trawlers and operators of the mechanized and non-mechanized crafts including tourist boats, cruise boats plying in the jurisdiction to keep a lookout and not cause any hindrances during the period.
Ribandar residents had demanded shifting of Royale Floatel from near the bird sanctuary. In a representation to the Chief Minister, the residents were supported by Panjim MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar and lawyer activist Aires Rodrigues.
“The Captain of Ports can decide an alternative location to shift the floatel under the Inland Vessels Act, but it should be executed within 15 days,” a senior officer had told Herald following a notification issued by the Home Department.
