PANJIM: The Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa constituting of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis on Monday heard the petition filed by Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) for being allotted the work of removing the stranded vessel ‘River Princess.’
During the hearing, SMIPL contended that it cannot accept the state government’s proposal to deposit Rs 10 crore bank guarantee for the River Princess tender. The advocate for SMIPL, Mr Sonak submitted that SMIPL is willing to deposit Rs 1 crore instead. He further submitted that the scrap value of the ship is yet to be determined.
Earlier, the state had informed the court that it would ask SMIPL to furnish Rs 10 crore as bank guarantee and furthermore, the scrap money in the court till the entire vessel is removed. The Advocate General, Mr Kantak informed the court that the state is still negotiating with successful bidders the terms and conditions for removal of the stranded vessel and sought time for finalising the tender.
Meanwhile, the River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM) is seeking leave of the court to intervene in the matter. RPHM is opposing the tender from being awarded to SMIPL. The sole ground for the opposition by RPHM is that SMIPL is responsible for the disaster. RPHM moreover pointed out that the presence of the ship off the Candolim coastline has caused the beach to erode rapidly. RPHM has also pointed out that the bank guarantee offered by SMIPL is a meagre Rs 1 crore compared to the offer by other prospective bidders who are ready to deposit up to Rs 5 crore. Still further, RPHM submitted that the state itself spent around Rs 3.5 crore on measures to stop erosion of the coastline. The matter will now come up for further hearing on September 22.
2 comments:
I do not think it is the 10 crore deposit that is making the problem. It must Cowmuth and his gang of ministers, who must have demanded another 10 crore for themselves that is for sure.
There will be one reason after the other to delay the removal of this princess of death. After a century our grand kids will still be talking discussing it.
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