PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday announced that an inquiry would be conducted into the entry of the unmanned naphtha-ferrying tanker, which ran aground off Dona Paula coast last month.
Speaking to media persons, Sawant said that the government is serious on the issue and that he is monitoring the situation. “We will definitely conduct a detailed inquiry into the entry of vessel in Goan waters. We will investigate into how the vessel entered Goa, who brought it, etc,” he said.
Sawant also said unloading of 2000 tonnes of naphtha from the tanker is the priority and a professional agency to undertake the salvage operation would be onboard by Monday. “The priority for now is to empty naphtha from the vessel,” the Chief Minister said.
Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on Friday had informed the Bombay High Court that the vessel is in danger of breaking up and could result in the possible spillage of naphtha, oil and diesel currently in its hold.
Despite the MPT submission, the Chief Minister reiterated that there is no danger of any spillage at this moment and that the tanker, Nu-Shi Nalini, that ran aground on a rocky shelf, was in good condition.
Sawant apologised to the people as the initial attempts to empty the naphtha failed. He said that the five-member committee appointed under Director General of Shipping will be monitoring the operation.
The unmanned vessel carrying over 2,000 tonnes of naphtha, 50 tonnes of heavy oil and 19 tonnes of diesel has been grounded off the Goa coast since October 24.
