the goan I network
PANAJI
A Congress delegation which met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that the chief minister has assured them of an inquiry by Secretary, Shipping into the naphtha-filled tanker episode and that an FIR would be filed against MPT chairman within the next 15 days. The delegation also said that the safety of Goans was on top of CM’s priority and transportation of naphtha by road was
ruled out.
The assurance were given by the Chief Minister, according to the Congress delegation, after they met him with a memorandum apprehending transportation of naphtha by road after it is offloaded from Nu Shi Nalini ship at Vasco.
The Chief Minister tweeted “A delegation led by Leader of Opposition Shri @digambarkamat met Chief Minister @DrPramodPSawant regarding Naphtha issue. CM assured of putting safety of Goans on top priority”.
The Congress delegation demanded a high-level inquiry as to how an unmanned tanker carrying nearly 2,500 tonnes of naphtha was allowed to anchor off the state shores and the delay in salvaging the vessel carrying dangerous cargo.
The memorandum read, “High level investigation should be ordered into arrival of the said ship, including its origin from Pakistan, consignor, consignee, cargo, licenses and permissions, etc. The Congress objects to the decision of the Government asking the Director General of Shipping to investigate the matter, as the said agency itself is responsible for giving permission to berth the said ship at MPT Port. We demand that the investigation should be given to DIA or NIA.”
The Chief Minister has told us to give him some time and that an FIR would be filed within 15 days against the MPT Chairman, the Congress delegation said.
Speaking to reporters later Sawant said that action would be taken against those who are guilty in allowing the unmanned vessel to be anchored off the coastline, despite storm warnings in October.
The action against the guilty will be taken after the core issue of transportin the naphtha away from Goa’s shores is taken care of. No one will be spared,” Sawant said.
