PRINCESS TO STAY PUT IN SINQUERIM

PANJIM: River Princess is not going to leave the Sinquerim shore before monsoon 2011. The state government on Friday admitted that Arihant Shipbreakers that has been awarded the task of cutting the ship had sought 180 days of fair weather that would be spread over two seasons.

A month after awarding the contract to Arihant and no sign of the work order being issued, apprehensions were raised that the stranded ship would remain in the sea for another monsoon as a normal start to the monsoon in early June 2011 would mean less than 180 days for the company to complete the task.

Sinquerim residents had hoped that River Princess would disappear from their coastline before June 2011. "Arihant has asked for 180 days of fair weather. We are already in December. It looks like this fair season will not be enough," River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM) convenor Fermino Fernandes said.

North Goa collector Mihir Vardhan agreed that the ship, or at least part of it, would have to survive another monsoon in the sea. "That was evident from the start. All bidders including Arihant had specified that they would need 180 days of fair weather. Half the job can be done within this season, and the remaining can be completed after the monsoon," Vardhan said.

Salvor Annand Madgaonkar agreed and said, "There is no choice but to cut the ship up to low tide water level. The part underwater is more protected than that which is left exposed to the elements. There is also a small chance of floating debris washing up on the shore if the ship is left uncut." RPHM is, however, not satisfied with the delays in issuing the work order to get rid of the ship that ran aground in June 2000. (TNN)