the goan I network
PANAJI
The Congress on Tuesday alleged that had Pakistan not lost the “most favoured nation” tag for doing business with India following the Pulwama blasts, Urban Development Minister Milind Naik was looking to make a whooping Rs 15 crore on the 2,600 metric tonnes of naphtha loaded in the vessel.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress house, GPCC president Girish Chodankar told the media that the Congress had investigated the history of the abandoned vessel and investigations had revealed that Naik was supposed to make a multiple crore profit on the naphtha in the vessel.
“The worth of naphtha in the MT Nu-Shi Nalini is Rs 15 crore. Naik is the only one going around saying that the material in the vessel is sludge (waste.) When the information obtained under RTI clearly reveals that it is naphtha. What technology does Naik have to look into the stranded vessel and see that there is sludge inside?” demanded Chodankar.
Apparently, because the Nalini was damaged, the captain was looking to sell the naphtha in the vessel, and a deal was struck with Naik, who according to Chodankar, controls all business activity at the port.
Here’s what Chodankar narrated next: Naik had struck a deal to pay the captain of Nalini Rs 1.5 crore for the 2,600 metric tonnes of naphtha worth Rs 15 crore. However, this trade deal had to get clearance from Customs. But when it reached that stage, Naik got a rude shock upon learning that anything imported from Pakistan was now subject to a 200% Customs fee after Pakistan lost the “most favoured nation” for business tag. What’s more, since the material was naphtha, the Customs fee would have to be 200% on Rs 15 crore. So the entire deal went awry, and everyone abandoned the ship.”
The party’s research also revealed that the MPT had also broken rules when it came to accepting the vessel at the port back in July. A damaged ship such as Nalini could only dock at a port where 1) repairs can be done, and 2) naphtha can be offloaded. MPT has the provision for neither, according to Chodankar.
He further said that accepting the Nalini was an unwise and unsafe choice.
“The vessel came here and docked at berth no 8. It’s supposed to be a safe berth because it’s close to passenger vessels. You cannot have explosives and unmanned vessels over there. Further, the vessel came from Pakistan. The government keeps talking of nationalism. Everyone knows what happened in Mumbai, how the terrorists came in small boats to Mumbai. But when it comes to money, these nationalists forget about the love for their nation,” Chodankar said.
NGO questions govt decision to pump out naphtha from ship
PANAJI: An NGO, Goa First has questioned the Goa government decision to pump out naphtha from the vessel in barges and towing it to safer position.
The Goa government has decided to start operation to pump out naphtha from the vessel from October 31. “Only some listed companies like BPCL, ONGC, Indian Oil have permission to unload naphtha. If some disaster happens during the pumping out operation than who will be responsible,” asked RTI activist and member of NGO Goa First Prashant Sonurlekar in a press conference on Tuesday.
State has not declared it a national emergency. How the State can intervene without roping in an authorised agency, asked Sonurlekar.
Sonurlekar refuted the claim of Mormugao MLA Milind Naik that the unmanned vessel tanker ‘Nu-Shi Nalini’ has sludge in it. Sonurlekar said that as per inspection carried out by Goa Pollution Control Board on September 17 the vessel contains 2,600 metric tonnes of naphtha in it.
Alleging lapse from the MPT and other concerned officials Sonurlekar demanded an judicial inquiry into the whole episode of vessel matter.
We had complained about the vessel two months before but no authorities acted on it, lamented Sonurlekar showing his complaints copies.
It was Goa First activist which has registered a police complaint in the matter of drifting of Nu-Shi Nalini vessel, added Sonurlekar.
He said that after his complaint to GSPCB about the vessel, the MPT disowned the vessel and the vessel was kept outside the MPT port.
We highlighted the issue through social media and fearing that the authorities disowned the vessel. But government has to fix the responsibility now, demanded Sonurlekar.
