River Princess expected to be declared as state disaster

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-03-26
PANAJI - With the clearance given by the Election Commission of India, the River Princess saga looks all set to enter into its final phase as now the state can go ahead and declare it a state disaster and remove it.
Last week, the state government had decided to declare the grounded River Princess a state disaster based on the recommendation by the government-appointed committee on the vessel, subject the EC giving the necessary approvals as the election code of conduct was in force. The recommendatory committee was headed by the then North Goa collector, Mr G P Naik and included the Calangute MLA, Mr Agnelo Fernandes.
The River Princess, a 240-metre-long ore carrier belonging to M/s Salgaocar Mining Industries Ltd, went aground off the Candolim coast in June, 2000 and till date is still rusting away. This derelict hulk has affected the seabed, with shards of corroded steel being washed ashore, threatening bathers and with every passing day changes the topography of the beach, say experts.
However, salvage experts say that removing the ship today due to the delay is difficult as over the years the ship has settled nearly 8 to 10 metres into the seabed and has filled up with sand.
Experts also point out that the tidal flow beneath and around the hulk has altered not only the seabed but also the sea current itself and led to erosion leading to the steady degradation of the Sinquerim-Candolim beach.
About 110 metres of Candolim beach have been eroded in the last eight years.