the goan I network
VASCO
Contrary to directions from the South Goa Collector Ajit Roy, operations to pump naphtha from the MV Nu-Shi Nalini to the Ganesh Benzoplast Limited (GBL) tanks at Berth 8 of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) continued on Saturday, prompting an angry Urban Development Minister Milind Naik to accuse senior bureaucrats of colluding with MPT.
Speaking to reporters in the presence of a large crowd at the site on Saturday morning, Naik said he was informed about the pumping of naphtha, which continued on Friday evening despite directives by the Collector to halt the operations.
“I made about 30 calls to Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, but he did not attend to my calls, even though I am a minister. After 30 calls, he informed me that he is unwell. If he was unwell, he could have sent me a message after two calls. Other people had also called him. I will now check records of that period of time, to see if he had answered calls of other people.”
“Senior bureaucrats could be hand-in-glove with the MPT administration,” alleged Naik.
Naik later summoned South Goa Collector Ajit Roy to the site where a portion of the pipeline is exposed and to prove that the pumping operations were underway as they were speaking, he showed
him two cups of water which were placed on the pipeline.
The vibration of the water was indicative that the naphtha was being pumped, claimed the minister.
Roy later also met MPT Dy Chairman G P Rai but refused to reveal any details.
“I will speak to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant about this as we want the naphtha to be moved back into the ship and the vessel should be taken away from here. As per reports, the ship is fit and can be taken away from here,” said the minister.
“On the basis of public safety, the Collector is empowered to stop discharge of naphtha in these tanks with just one directive and he did that. But later, there was discussion that naphtha was stored in GBL tanks as per High Court directives,” said Naik.
He also accused the MPT of misguiding the High Court over the location of GBL tanks.
“When people are concerned about their safety, this discharge should have been stopped no matter what certification those tanks have. The CM has told me that he has informed the Collector to check details and stop the discharge of naphtha with written direction.”
“If required, people will barge into the port. I have sought a briefing from the advocate general and if required, we will approach the court on Monday,” said Naik.
“I am only worried of the safety of residents and if I had been invited by the CM for the series of disaster management meetings at MPT, I could have offered a better solution, but CM said he was handling the matter and I had full faith in the CM,” said Naik.
