VASCO: Claiming that it was the responsibility of the state government to appeal to the High Court seeking relief to the barges and trucks loaded with iron ore cargo, Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) on Friday voiced fear that if the status quo continues till monsoon, then rain water may accumulate in the cargo hold of barges and they may sink.
GBOA president Raymond DeSa and other executive members of the association addressed a press conference in Vasco on Friday. DeSa said that the iron ore which the barges were transporting was legal as “the barges had obtained all the necessary permissions from the director of mines and geology to transport the iron ore cargo.”
DeSa maintained that the barges had followed the log sheet or the trip sheet as per the government rule while loading the vessels.
He claimed that the order issued by the Supreme Court clearly states that mining should be stopped only after unloading the ore which is transported by the barges. He said, “We have not done anything wrong.”
The GBOA president disclosed that 60-odd barges laden with iron ore cargo are anchored off Mormugao Port. He said, “It is a very big risk for the barge owners to keep the barges loaded with iron ore cargo, since there is a possibility of the vessels sinking due to rough weather condition in the months of April and May and even during monsoon.”
“We don’t know when the court will come out with an order to discharge the cargo loaded in the barges. In April and May, there is bad weather condition in the sea, there are chances of damage caused to the barges,” said DeSa.
He said that there is immense pressure on barge and truck owners.