Govt to examine extension of time for removing aground vessel

Panaji, Mar 27 (UNI) The Government will soon take its final decision on whether to extend the time of floating and towing away the aground commercial vessel M V River Princess lying at Sequerim coast in North Goa for the last five years, Tourism Minister Fraicisco Xavier Pascheco told the Assembly today.

Replying to a question tabled in the State Legislative Assembly on the issue today, the Tourism Minister told the House that the department, the Law Secretary and the Advocate General had already examined the requisition of Gujarat-based contractor Jaisu Shipping Company for renewal of the time period for towing away of the vessel and later breaking it.

According to the contract assigned to him on October 23, 2006, the shipping company had to complete the task in 180 days and absorb the sales proceeds of the scrap thereof, but it failed to do so. This authorises the Government to recover Rs one lakh as damage for each day for 30 days and any breach of contract involves invocation of the Rs 5.5 crore bank guarantee, he added.

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