Panaji, October 26, 2019 … …The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant convened a emergency meeting at his residence at Altinho Panaji today. The meeting was regarding the marine disaster with an “unmanned” chemical tanker carrying nearly 3000 MT of naphtha drifting away from the outer anchorage and grounding itself just three nautical miles away from Dona Paula. He took the stock of the situation and directed the concerned authorities to initiate action to get the vessel be taken away before causing any untoward situation.
Thereafter briefing the press the Chief Minister said that the vessel drifted from its anchorage because of the cyclonic storm and is now grounded near Dona Paula. He said the concerned authorities have been directed to intervene into the situation and ordered the captain of the vessel to take away the said vessel as early as before occurring any disaster further.
Minister for Science and Technology and Waste Management, Shri Michael Lobo during the interaction with the authorities expressed the fear of leakage of naptha leading to pollution of the beach which may affect the tourist.
Arya Ship Charterers Pvt Ltd, the owner of the vessel The crew was evacuated from the vessel after a naphtha leak was detected. Though the leak was repaired, the crew abandoned Ramesh said that the unmanned vessel has a double hull and thus there is no risk of leakage.
Collector North Goa Ms. R. Menka (IAS) ,Secretary Revenue Shri Sanjay Kumar (IAS) Captain, Captain of Ports Shri Mathew Braganza and others attended the meeting
