Miramar (Goa): After facing wrath from the Goa bench of Bombay High Court over possible damage to the ecology at Miramar beach, the Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd (GGHPL) has initiated talks with an international salvor to rescue the stranded casino ship Lucky 7. The development comes nearly two weeks after the company contacted Goa-based Madgavkar Salvage Pvt Ltd for the project.
“We will finalize one salvor to salvage the vessel as soon as possible. We are in talks with both the companies. The Dubai firm is the same from whom my company had purchased the vessel, and its experts are also surveying the condition of the vessel and the weather to re-float it,” GGHPL owner Gopal Kanda said exclusively speaking to TNV.
The Madgavkar Company had also sent its experts for an inspection and communicated to GGHPL that the salvaging exercise will commence only after September 15. “Both companies have assured to tow the vessel out,” the businessman-cum-politician commented.
The high court had come down heavily on the company asking it to remove M V Lucky 7 from the beach without further delay. “We are not concerned how this is done (rescue operation), as long as there is no environment damage. We make ourselves abundantly clear that we will hold the petitioners responsible for the slightest environmental damage and loss caused to either Miramar Beach, the city of Panaji or any of the beaches downstream such as Caranzalem”, the court had observed in its order on August 21.
The vessel which was ready to be towed earlier this month has now developed further cracks resulting in the flooding of the ground floor and the main deck. While it managed to re-float, it has now turned towards east-western side and is partially tilted.
The Goa pollution control board has now decided to slap a fine of Rs 1 crore if it causes any damage to the environment.
The high court has warned that the situation should not turn like M V River Princess at Candolim beach, that had severely damaged the environment in 10-odd years.