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Minister for Science and Technology Alina Saldanha said that the South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik has issued an order to cut the grounded pontoon within the next 10 days.
Addressing media in her constituency office at Cansaulim on Friday, Saldanha disclosed that the salvage operation will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will involve placing of all the necessary equipment in a right position and pulling the pontoon towards the shore, while the second phase will be the actual cutting of the grounded pontoon.
She said that the owner of the pontoon Arihant Ship Breakers has been asked to take away the debris of the pontoon and restore the beach.
“The entire salvage operation will be carried out within the next 10 days,” Saldanha said.
She said that the environment engineer of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Sanjeev Joglekar has been appointed as the incharge of special committee which has been constituted by the South Goa Collector for the salvage operation of the pontoon.
The order has been issued under section 26 (2) and 30 sub section 2 clause (v) of Disaster Management Act 2005, to cut and remove the grounded vessel/pontoon ‘Bhageerath-1’ at Arossim beach with instructions to the pontoon owner, deputy collector, mamlatdar, captain of ports, Goa State Pollution Board (GSPCB), Verna police to monitor the work.