VASCO
GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar and other members on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Coastal Police, demanding a thorough enquiry in the un-manned Nu Shi Nalini ship episode which sparked off a raging controversy last year.
While congratulating the Coastal Police for filing a case against the ship owners, Amonkar said an enquiry was needed to determine who had brought the unmanned tanker ship containing around 2,300 metric tonnes of naphtha to the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
Later speaking to reporters, Amonkar alleged that a politician was involved in bringing the unmanned ship to the port.
“A case has been filed against the ship owners and while they are guilty, we also want to know who had told the owners to tow the unmanned ship from Cochin to MPT.”
“We also believe that the MPT chairman was pressurised by a politician to allow the ship into MPT,” said Amonkar.
“When the ship ran aground near the Raj Bhavan, we along with Digambar Kamat had taken a representation to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. He had asked us to give him time to remove the grounded ship and clear the contents, after which he would file a criminal case against the MPT chairman, which has not been done till date,” said Amonkar.
He added that a recycling company in MPT was also involved in attempting to clear the contents of the ship and the licence of the company needs to be cancelled as well.
“As of now, the vessel and the naphtha has been sold to a Dubai party. We want to know where the proceeds of the sale have gone and whether the money received from the sale of the ship and its cargo was given to the State government, central government or MPT and this has to be enquired.”
“We have demanded that the police carry out a thorough enquiry into this episode,” said Amonkar.
