Vikrant won8217;t go as scrap, says Joshi

MUMBAI, June 9: Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today declared the Shiv Sena-BJP government would not allow disposal of the Indian Navy's decom...

MUMBAI, June 9: Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today declared the Shiv Sena-BJP government would not allow disposal of the Indian Navy8217;s decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant as scrap. quot;We8217;ll ensure the decision to convert Vikrant into a maritime museum is taken before July 31, the deadline set by the Indian Navy,quot; he told mediapersons after the weekly cabinet meeting.

The CM8217;s announcement comes a day before the crucial meeting of the Mumbai Port Trust8217;s sub-committee, which was constituted last year to decide if the Jamshedji Bunder site near Radio Club should be given for the berthing of the aircraft carrier.

Joshi said since there has been objection to the site near Radio Club, the government has suggested a new site which is a little away from Radio Club. quot;I feel the Mumbai Port Trust will agree to the new site,quot; he said.

Replying to a question, Joshi said he had a meeting with Shanti Patel and S R Kulkarni, both trustees of the Mumbai Port Trust. quot;Apparently, they don8217;t have any objection toour proposal. Their objection is to what they say will be the adverse impact on the local environment due to the museum,quot; Joshi said.

Last month, the navy served an ultimatum on the state government, saying it would auction the historic aircraft carrier unless a decision to convert it into a museum was taken before July 31.

The ultimatum came after the authorities feared the rapidly deteriorating vessel, berthed at the naval dockyard, might develop a leak and sink.

The Union Surface Transport Minister Dr Devendra Pradhan also assured city BJP chief Kirit Somaiya the Centre would grant the decommissioned warship all permissions before the July 31 deadline and give it the status of a national monument. Last month, the minister visited the site near Radio Club along with port trust and state government officials.

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Meanwhile, a leading Alang-based scrap dealer feels the Vikrant shouldn8217;t be sold as scrap. quot;The Vikrant must be preserved as a museum. Scrapping the ship could earn the government a few croresof rupees, but it could lose the nation years of history,quot; says Parduman Goyal of Rajeev Shipbreakers.

Goyal, who specialises in scrapping warships, had visited the Vikrant in Mumbai over a decade ago, and still cherishes the experience. But having scrapped two of the Indian navy8217;s greatest warships 8212; INS Delhi and INS Mysore 8212; over 15 years ago, he will also bid for Vikrant if it does come up for sale.

Closer home, the Akhil Maharashtra Kriti Samiti has opposed the choice of Jamshedji Bunder for berthing the Vikrant. Members of the Samiti, led by president Damodar Tandel, met the chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust MbPT Arun Kumar Mago today and told him about their objection.