the goan I network
VASCO
With the tanker MV Nu-Shi Nalini finally moved to the MPT in an operation late Wednesday night, the focus of attention has now shifted to the removal of its cargo of 2,500 tonnes of naphtha and the blame game has already begun.
A visibly upset Urban Development Minister and Mormugao MLA Milind Naik complained that the government had kept him in the dark regarding the entire matter, despite being a minister and MLA of the area.
“I was not even aware that the naphtha-loaded ship was anchored at MPT or else, I would have immediately met the MPT chairman and taken steps to ensure that the vessel is moved out of Goan waters,” said Naik, while speaking to reporters in Vasco.
“I was not invited for even a single disaster management meeting in the MPT with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. I don’t care about opposition making a noise, but I felt very bad when I realised that the government had not even invited me for the meeting,” said Naik.
“I met the CM on many occasions and asked him why I was not invited to these meetings and he said he was handling the situation. I wrote to the CM, MPT chairman and even spoke at party level requesting the government not to store naphtha in GBL tanks as they are not fit. But today, a decision has been taken against the interest of the people of my constituency,” complained a bitter Naik.
Squarely blaming MPT Chairman Dr E Ramesh Kumar for the entire naphtha episode, the angry minister alleged that Dr Kumar was not even listening to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“The MPT chairman has spelled doom for the port ever since he has joined and is involved in the naphtha episode. Now, he has not even listened to the government and put lives at risk,” said Naik.
“I was born here and I know how the port functions. There was no reason to move the naphtha-loaded ship back to MPT. Naphtha should not be loaded anywhere on shore in Goa. I wonder why necessary arrangements to transfer naphtha to another ship in the high sea was not made before the vessel was refloated,” said Naik.
