MARGAO
Senior officials of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Tuesday said the temporary pontoon installed at Betul drifted into the sea during adverse cyclonic conditions while it was being dismantled for reuse.
During a joint inspection of the site, ONGC Executive Director Sanket Gupta said the pontoon, built at a cost of around Rs 10 crore, was insured and that the corporation had already filed an insurance claim. The inspection was attended by Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa, Quepem Mamlatdar Nathan Afonso, members of the Betul panchayat and other officials.
Addressing concerns raised by local fishermen, Gupta assured that the pontoon had not drifted into the navigation channel at the mouth of the River Sal and would not affect the movement of fishing vessels.
He said the floating pontoon had been installed temporarily to ferry delegates staying in nearby hotels to the India Energy Week venue, reducing road congestion.
According to Gupta, the hydraulic system malfunctioned while the pontoon was being lifted amid cyclonic weather, causing it to drift into the sea.
“Once the pontoon began drifting, we immediately engaged professional salvagers to secure it. It will be towed away as soon as sea conditions improve,” he said, reiterating that it had not entered the navigation channel.
Gupta also maintained that ONGC had obtained all statutory clearances before undertaking the project, including approvals from the Mormugao Port Authority, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Captain of Ports and other competent authorities.
He further claimed that copies of the approvals had been forwarded to the Betul panchayat. However, panchayat representatives disputed the claim, saying they had not received any such permissions.
