Phal Dessai cries foul over solar ferry inauguration

Panaji: River navigation minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Monday expressed his annoyance that the captain of ports decided to launch a solar ferry — constructed by his department — without his knowledge.
Phal Dessai told TOI that the construction of the Rs 4 crore ferry began during the last government’s term, but has been completed now.
“I have received an invitation from Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) and the New Mangalore Port Authority to attend the launch function of the ferry in Panaji. My name is featured at the bottom of the invitation.”
Phal Dessai, on receiving the invitation, immediately contacted CM Pramod Sawant to discuss the issue. “I told the chief minister that it is my department’s project and it is being inaugurated by somebody else,” he said. “The chief minister said he has neither received any information about the function nor has he given any permission.”
The inauguration has been scheduled on October 13 at MPA, and Union ports minister Sarbananda Sonowal is the chief guest. The invitation also names Sawant, ministers and MLAs.
A similar launch function has been organised by the captain of ports at Panaji. “When I am a host, I have been treated as a guest by my own department,” Phal Dessai said.
A senior official said that a note has been moved to the river navigation minister to organise the launch at ferry point, Panaji. The function also includes inauguration of the floating jetty in the River Mandovi.
“MPA or NMPA invitations are general in nature, as Union minister is common for both. The Union minister will virtually launch it at MPA, and later, it will come to Panaji for the launch. The invitation for the Panaji function will be sent separately by the state government,” the official said.
Recently, the department of ports and department of river navigation conducted a soft launch of the vessel.