This appeared in the Herald of March 27,2007
http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=1562&cid=2
The alleged lapses or failure to disclose injuries during the first autopsy of British teenager Scarlet Keeling carried out by Goa Medical College (GMC) professor and Head of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Dr Silvano Sapeco has come to the fore during the recent controversy. Yesterday, the government suspended Dr Sapeco. The question, however, is: Is the autopsy that Dr Sapeco carried out really faulty? The autopsy report did not state the possibility of homicide. But is this in any way suspicious?
The fact is that autopsy surgeons are not required to comment on the manner of death. They only have to state the cause of death. There’s a good reason for this: forensic surgeons do not visit the site of the crime, and consequently, are not familiar with its circumstances.
In 2007, as many as 1,534 autopsies were performed by the department at GMC, and the manner of death was never commented on or explained even in a single case. Determining the manner of death, say experts, is legally and technically the task of the police, who can demand from the autopsy surgeon any information that will help them in their investigations.
The Sapeco autopsy said: “Cause of death is due to drowning in the beach sand waters.” It went on to say “viscera and materials have been preserved.” In the confusion that followed, nobody took cognisance of these words. These six crucial words imply that the report on the cause of death (finally) will depend on the analysis of the sealed viscera and materials and the post mortem examination report.This is what is defined in the manual Medico-Legal Autopsy: “Homicidal drowning —Murder by drowning is very rare, except in the case of infants and children. A person may be pushed into a river or into the sea. Marks of strangulation or throttling or severe violence applied to the head are presumptive of homicide. Bruises are strongly suspicious. Homicidal drowning in shallow water is possible, if the assailants hold the victim’s head in such a position as to cover the nostrils and mouth. Signs of struggle or marks of violence on the body are likely to be found in such cases. If a person is taken unawares or rendered senseless and defenceless by alcohol or hypnotic drugs, and the head is submerged in water for five to 10 minutes, no marks of violence will be found on the body.”
Though PSI Nerlon Albuquerque has insinuated that Dr Sapeco did not actually state homicidal drowning (he was not bound to), he should have done better than that having been taught the basics by the same manual. The critical question is, why did PSI Albuquerque wait from the date of the autopsy (February 18, 1700 hrs) till March 6 to inform Dr Sapeco that the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad, could not perform viscera tests till 2010? The Goa Police already knew (as did entire the police force in India) that CFSL had stopped testing from February 1,2007.
Dr Sapeco in fact wrote on the reverse of the PSI’s request letter: “.the preserved viscera and materials were supposed to be sent for chemical analysis for detection of . (this part ineligible) and drugs like narcotic drugs or drugs of abuse which might get destroyed in view of such undue delay in transportation and analysis. The vaginal swabs and smear slides have significant value in the case for evidence of recent sexual intercourse. These facts too were explained immediately as this could be a case of homicidal drowning in view of the pattern of injuries. The Anjuna police should act immediately , These corroborative evidences have significance to the suspected homicidal drowning.. I also request you to take serious note of the aforesaid facts which shall have relevance and significance as to the final opinion in the case ..”
PSI Nerlon Albuquerque has reason to dislike Dr Sapeco. In the Quepem murder case, while the PSI’s suspension was lifted after nearly two years, Sapeco’s suspension was lifted in less than a month after he successfully defended himself. In fact, the Anjuna posting was the PSI’s first after his suspension was lifted. PSI Albuquerque has blamed the failure of the first autopsy to specifically declare Scarlet’s death as homicidal, for the confusion in the minds of the investigating police.
Dr Sapeco hand wrote his opinion and warning on the reverse of letter no: PI/ANJ/1549/2008 of March 6, in which PSI Albuquerque requested a covering letter for the evidence to be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, Mumbai, where it could be analysed much faster. Perhaps this was the only time in the case that PSI Albuquerque made use of his medico-legal training. These notes were reported in a section of the media as a “supplementary autopsy” but in actual fact they are not.
To come to the actual post mortem reports, while the Sapeco autopsy reveals five distinct external injuries to the body, the largest an abrasional area (multiple abrasions) of 7x2 cm, and one internal injury (more about this later), the team led by Dr Edmund Rodrigues shows 50.
Now though it sounds impressive to the layman, this has little or no medical significance. For example, Dr Rodrigues shows injuries as tiny as 8x3 mm and 2x2 mm that, intrinsically, are covered in a single notation in the Sapeco autopsy. An expert explained to this writer: “If I were to claw or scratch you face with my hand, the right thing would be to indicate a single scratch or injury. But if I wanted to, I could indicate five injuries, each representing one finger, and it would sound so much more impressive.”
As many as 27 of the injuries in the second autopsy are marked post mortem (caused after death) and one was marked “pending histopathological examination.” This leaves 23 ante mortem (before death) injuries that are mostly covered by the first post mortem. Here too, opinion counts. An abrasion on the forearm identified as “fresh and ante mortem” by Dr Sapeco has been listed as “post mortem” by Dr Rodrigues.
Ultimately, after listing all these 50 injuries, what conclusion does the second post mortem reach about the cause of death? None. Instead it says that drowning as a cause of death “cannot be ruled out” - almost exactly the same conclusion as the first post mortem. It then goes on to “recommend” that the death be investigated as homicidal.
But the interesting thing is that the Sapeco autopsy clearly shows “left lower labial sulcus at mucogingival aspect has 3/4 x1/2 cm red bruise. On section it was ¬ cms deep.” In layman’s terms this injury, on the inside of the lower lip, could easily have been caused if Scarlet’s face was pressed into the sand by the attacker(s) trying to kill her, assuming it was a case of murder. One expert said: “Hypothetically, this one injury was enough to warrant a conclusion of homicide, even if one assumes that the first autopsy was so poor that it did not reveal any other injuries.” Still, PI Albuquerque chose not to act fast, but instead wait.
Experts also point to this very kind of lip injury as an example of why autopsy surgeons are not supposed to comment on the manner of death. If a victim receives mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the giver could leave similar telltale marks on the inner lip that could totally deceive investigators. Dr Sapeco also seems to have made sure that he got a dental cast, because this would determine Scarlet’s age. He probably became suspicious of the age (20 to 25 years) given by the Anjuna police when they brought in Scarlet’s body.
This may not be the last we hear about post mortems. A source close to Fiona MacKeown says she intends to ask for a third autopsy in England, soon after the body is taken there. But it is not expected to reveal anything new.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Narvekar has no fear of flying - March 10,2008
Eye Spy appears in Gomantak Times every Monday
Around The World In 365 days
From the time man inherited the earth, the dream of flying has always been paramount. Legend tells of Pegasus, the flying horse, Hermes, the winged messenger of the Gods, of the Greek inventor, Daedalus who made wings for himself and his son Icarus, of the Arabians and their flying carpets. Among the dreamers were Leonardo DaVinci who seriously studied birds and drew pictures of wings, parachutes, propellers and helicopters; Edgar Allen Poe and Jules Verne who wrote many stories of flying above the earth and space, including 'Around The World In 80 Days.'
Man has even flapped his arms and jumped off cliffs repeatedly and unsuccessfully. Only in 1783 man could float freely through the air for the first time in baskets attached to big balloons filled with hot air. The romantic era of aviation, the era of helmeted and be-goggled young men who flew for the love of flying, is over, unfortunately. Today, it's different. Today in Goa, a group of MLAs like Vishwajeet Rane and his modern day apparatchiks get into a flap over such dreary notions as the government not functioning, and before you can say "Hell, no" they take off with the speed and versatility of a (VTOL) vertical takeoff and landing aircraft like the Navy's Sea Harrier. None is prepared to jump off for example the Porvorim cliff, and I do not mean that literally, but figuratively, meaning they wouldn't in exchange for a flight on board the Apollo even be willing to eject from their pilot seats in the Secretariat. No, they have to fly off to Dilli. In a way they are fearless, primed to be airborne more, and therefore, they are called Goa's Flying Circus. The leader of our very own team of Red Devils is Dayanand Narvekar whose unquenchable thirst for flying cost the taxpayer Rs14,94,884 between February 2, 2000 and October 11, 2007. Fasten your seat belts and be ready for takeoff.
Free flying
Beginning the year 2000 (I have records from 2000-March 1, 2007 only) Narvekar flew once to Mumbai. In 2003 he flew Goa-Delhi, Goa-Bangalore and Goa-Delhi. In 2004 he flew Goa-Kolkata-Alzwal-Guwahati-Delhi. In 2005 Goa-Pune, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Pune-Mumbai, Goa-Bangalore, Goa-Delhi-Mumbai, Goa-Delhi and Goa-Hyderabad. Between February 25 and September 25, 2006 he flew to Sydney, Australia (cost Rs2,20,818) Goa-Delhi, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Chennai-Bangalore, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Bangalore-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai. And in our wisdom we thought they flew to Delhi only. We were wrong. Between October 13 and November 6, 2006 he flew to Delhi and Mumbai. Analyze his flight patterns if you can. Unfortunately I did not want to bore you with the periods of his stay outside Goa, though that might have provided the methodology. But, I do hope someone somewhere is getting the frequent flyer mileage benefit out of this flying. Because my own calculations tell me this could be huge, the frequent flyer benefit, that is.
Above ground!
In 2007 Narvekar was airborne most of the time flying six times to Delhi including via Mumbai once, ten times directly to Mumbai and once each to Mumbai- Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Chennai and Bangalore. Once to London-Sao Paulo-Rio (cost Rs5,14,054.) That's 20 flights in 12 months! Add the days spent in these destinations plus the usual flight delays and travelling time to airports that (delays + traveling time) in India normally amounts to more than double the flying hours, Narvekar must have been hardpressed for time. Only the chief secretary JP Singh at Rs17,43,663 (for the same period) bested politicians and IAS officers.
Obfuscator par excellence
Perhaps only Narvekar knows why he spends your money travelling to Mumbai because only he seems to know what is best for Goa. At the Biotech '08 seminar on March 1 in Mapusa he said this "Lots of people, who know nothing, decide lots of things for Goa." He, it can be said, practices a UK version of politics called "Economical with the truth" - if someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying. Narvekar and every other minister hauled over the coals over SEZs, by the proletariat, has off course been saying this ad nauseam in so many words. And strangely Srinivas Dempo appeared to concur with Narvekar on this at the same venue according to the media report I read. Narvekar even had the bravado to make fun of an MLA who in the Assembly he said exposed his deep ignorance of what an industrial park was. According to Narvekar an industrial park is 60 percent open space and greenery. Is he perhaps himself confused over the difference between an industrial park and a green park or recreational park as you understand the meaning of it? I imagine the thugs who set fire to the shrub and forest in Socorro so that an IT park could be built there also have a different opinion.
Shooting yourself in the foot
Why is it the Congress that claims to know what is good for the aam aadmi just can't seem to win an election. Look at Gujarat, HP, MP and Punjab where elections were last held. Lost Karnataka, an old bastion, and could never rise there again as it never will in Orissa or UP and Bihar. It lost Maharashtra, perhaps forever, and is quite a joke in Tamil Nadu. In fact, apart from Andhra Pradesh it is on the wane, and can only rule as a coalition partner. And in a coalition the ground rules are that you listen and not get grouchy. It got into a huge tangle across India on the SEZ issue and now hopes to preempt the anti-incumbency factor by holding a general election anytime now. And now Tripura and Meghalaya.
(Feedback 0832-2280935, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Around The World In 365 days
From the time man inherited the earth, the dream of flying has always been paramount. Legend tells of Pegasus, the flying horse, Hermes, the winged messenger of the Gods, of the Greek inventor, Daedalus who made wings for himself and his son Icarus, of the Arabians and their flying carpets. Among the dreamers were Leonardo DaVinci who seriously studied birds and drew pictures of wings, parachutes, propellers and helicopters; Edgar Allen Poe and Jules Verne who wrote many stories of flying above the earth and space, including 'Around The World In 80 Days.'
Man has even flapped his arms and jumped off cliffs repeatedly and unsuccessfully. Only in 1783 man could float freely through the air for the first time in baskets attached to big balloons filled with hot air. The romantic era of aviation, the era of helmeted and be-goggled young men who flew for the love of flying, is over, unfortunately. Today, it's different. Today in Goa, a group of MLAs like Vishwajeet Rane and his modern day apparatchiks get into a flap over such dreary notions as the government not functioning, and before you can say "Hell, no" they take off with the speed and versatility of a (VTOL) vertical takeoff and landing aircraft like the Navy's Sea Harrier. None is prepared to jump off for example the Porvorim cliff, and I do not mean that literally, but figuratively, meaning they wouldn't in exchange for a flight on board the Apollo even be willing to eject from their pilot seats in the Secretariat. No, they have to fly off to Dilli. In a way they are fearless, primed to be airborne more, and therefore, they are called Goa's Flying Circus. The leader of our very own team of Red Devils is Dayanand Narvekar whose unquenchable thirst for flying cost the taxpayer Rs14,94,884 between February 2, 2000 and October 11, 2007. Fasten your seat belts and be ready for takeoff.
Free flying
Beginning the year 2000 (I have records from 2000-March 1, 2007 only) Narvekar flew once to Mumbai. In 2003 he flew Goa-Delhi, Goa-Bangalore and Goa-Delhi. In 2004 he flew Goa-Kolkata-Alzwal-Guwahati-Delhi. In 2005 Goa-Pune, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Pune-Mumbai, Goa-Bangalore, Goa-Delhi-Mumbai, Goa-Delhi and Goa-Hyderabad. Between February 25 and September 25, 2006 he flew to Sydney, Australia (cost Rs2,20,818) Goa-Delhi, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Chennai-Bangalore, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Bangalore-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Delhi, Goa-Mumbai, Goa-Mumbai. And in our wisdom we thought they flew to Delhi only. We were wrong. Between October 13 and November 6, 2006 he flew to Delhi and Mumbai. Analyze his flight patterns if you can. Unfortunately I did not want to bore you with the periods of his stay outside Goa, though that might have provided the methodology. But, I do hope someone somewhere is getting the frequent flyer mileage benefit out of this flying. Because my own calculations tell me this could be huge, the frequent flyer benefit, that is.
Above ground!
In 2007 Narvekar was airborne most of the time flying six times to Delhi including via Mumbai once, ten times directly to Mumbai and once each to Mumbai- Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Chennai and Bangalore. Once to London-Sao Paulo-Rio (cost Rs5,14,054.) That's 20 flights in 12 months! Add the days spent in these destinations plus the usual flight delays and travelling time to airports that (delays + traveling time) in India normally amounts to more than double the flying hours, Narvekar must have been hardpressed for time. Only the chief secretary JP Singh at Rs17,43,663 (for the same period) bested politicians and IAS officers.
Obfuscator par excellence
Perhaps only Narvekar knows why he spends your money travelling to Mumbai because only he seems to know what is best for Goa. At the Biotech '08 seminar on March 1 in Mapusa he said this "Lots of people, who know nothing, decide lots of things for Goa." He, it can be said, practices a UK version of politics called "Economical with the truth" - if someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying. Narvekar and every other minister hauled over the coals over SEZs, by the proletariat, has off course been saying this ad nauseam in so many words. And strangely Srinivas Dempo appeared to concur with Narvekar on this at the same venue according to the media report I read. Narvekar even had the bravado to make fun of an MLA who in the Assembly he said exposed his deep ignorance of what an industrial park was. According to Narvekar an industrial park is 60 percent open space and greenery. Is he perhaps himself confused over the difference between an industrial park and a green park or recreational park as you understand the meaning of it? I imagine the thugs who set fire to the shrub and forest in Socorro so that an IT park could be built there also have a different opinion.
Shooting yourself in the foot
Why is it the Congress that claims to know what is good for the aam aadmi just can't seem to win an election. Look at Gujarat, HP, MP and Punjab where elections were last held. Lost Karnataka, an old bastion, and could never rise there again as it never will in Orissa or UP and Bihar. It lost Maharashtra, perhaps forever, and is quite a joke in Tamil Nadu. In fact, apart from Andhra Pradesh it is on the wane, and can only rule as a coalition partner. And in a coalition the ground rules are that you listen and not get grouchy. It got into a huge tangle across India on the SEZ issue and now hopes to preempt the anti-incumbency factor by holding a general election anytime now. And now Tripura and Meghalaya.
(Feedback 0832-2280935, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Friday, March 7, 2008
Who are they fooling? - March 4, 2008
Eye Spy appears in Gomantak Times every Monday
Windfall
Want to know why so many ministers want to build Ravindra Bhavans in their backyards, the bigger the better? It provides a free flow of money into their pockets. You can hardly get enough potable water, and when you do it is not drinkable as per WHO standards. Owners of individual homes have to incur huge expenditure on wells, pipelines, pumps, towers and storage tanks; plus maintenance costs. What really does government do for you? Yet, the estimated cost of the Ravindra Bhavan being built at Fatorda is Rs131,168,774. The tendered cost/work order value is Rs171,701,321. Here's an example also of how comfy life is made for the ruling class in paradise. The cabin and green house for the director -who will undoubtedly be a political mandarin- will cost Rs 364,245. The greenbacks that are to be made can, well, make you green about the gills. The estimated cost of the stage lighting, drapery, acoustics etc is Rs20,098,042. The tendered cost is Rs23,757,726. The figures for acoustics insulation with water proofing to the roofing are Rs1,614,105 and Rs1,692,900. If that was meant to make you green with envy, this will make you gnash your teeth. The tendered cost for installing a fire hydrant system is Rs3,290,846. If eventually there will be no water to feed the hydrant, surely there must be a huge windfall here. The air conditioning was tendered at Rs10,104,137. Brrr. Finally, the estimated cost of the Ravindra Bhavan (civil works only) is Rs67,542,401. The tendered cost Rs105,649,050. All this to sit 1100 well heeled on 28,454 sq mts land acquired from the aam aadmi for peanuts.
Aid and abet
Why is Bharati Shipyard so keen to push ahead with its expansion plans in Chicalim? There are several factors. It wants to invest Rs1,500 cr in shipbuilding because with an estimated $5 billion worth of export orders currently, the shipbuilding industry in India is on cloud nine. Bharati's shipyards' are located at Ghodbunder, near Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Kolkata. Besides, a Rs600 cr Greenfield project is being set up at the Mangalore SEZ (believe me these fully-exempt-from-tax, for export-only hand-outs come shrouded in many ways) for which it intends to dismantle and transfer the entire machinery from the 130-year old Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Shipyard Ltd it acquired last year. The asset buyout saves costs and time taken to set up a new shipyard. It also tied up with Apeejay Shipping to build a Rs2,000 cr shipyard on the east coast. With these kinds of expansion plans, rumours have it, Bharati is willing to bankroll the political clout needed?
Your enemy's enemy is my friend
The consequence of this is the back-door incorporation of the no objection to Bharati building a supposed shipbuilding institute in the memorandum of understanding, MPT signed with the Mormugao Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) that never for an instant set out to fight this issue in the first place. The MBA that has no jurisdiction over Chicalim was launched only to stop the fishing jetty from being built at Vaddem, in Vasco. The Chicalim Villagers Action Committee formed before the MBA to stop Bharati's expansion plans, claims the company is destroying the breeding ground of several species of shellfish; that the shipbuilding institute is nothing but a deception to further its expansion plans. In the event, Goa's coastline and rivers have been degraded by a succession of shams, before they were exposed, in the past and present. Then suddenly from out of this funded political clout emerges a counter-group claiming the institute will - low and behold - train locals to become welders. It produced this 22-carat nugget: that shipbuilding is eco-friendly. A former electrician of the very same Tyneside shipyard won £1m damages after developing a fatal asbestos-related lung cancer. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma and is only likely to live until early 2009. The judge giving the ruling said he was in close proximity to insulation fitters and others working with asbestos at the yard.
Little knowledge is a dangerous thing
As for the canard about the institute producing local welders, arguably the most health and occupational hazardous job in the industry. Here's news for them. Shipbuilding today is about computer numerical cutting machines, submerged arc welding and auto-cut where drawings are computerized. About, modular style of construction in which entire blocks are prefabricated and jointed into sections. It has moved a long time ago out of welding individual plates together. If you missed the point, it's all about reducing workforce. As for shipbuilding being eco-friendly. Not true either. Workers are exposed to asbestos in eight different ways, exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls in seven ways and also exposed to lead. Here's another thought for them: will a company willing to transship equipment and machinery all the way from England to save costs and time, set up a high-cost training institute, when the Institute of shipbuilding Technology in Vasco can train eight welders simultaneously in eight specially equipped booths? Does it need 44,000 sq mts (it has a total of 1,39,170 sq mts) for this? In fact ISBT has for decades been training welders and other categories of workforce for the industry.
Oil struck in Bogmolo?
A couple of days before someone decided to call in the media, I saw a migrant worker filling, by skimming off residues floating on the water, two bottles of fuel at the ancient spring in Palimand, Bogmolo, that in my opinion looks more combustible than high speed diesel oil or petrol. Media reports varied on which. Obviously that someone knew the cat was out of the bag because the problem is older than what sarpanch Laxman kavlekar claims it was. Perilously, the tanks are at least 1 km or more away and therefore the leaks could spread elsewhere. How far, could not be ascertained because the Navy will not allow anyone inside its base. There is explosive danger here that the Navy and the Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho must resolve quickly and go beyond the now almost daily photo-opportunity. The leaking fuel has already contaminated a private well nearby, a fact hidden from journalists. Earlier the well of the St. Cosme and Damian Church a distance away was contaminated. Evidently, some one or some persons in the Bogmolo and Chilcona panchayat are covering up their tracks.
(Feedback 9822152164, 0832-2280935, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Windfall
Want to know why so many ministers want to build Ravindra Bhavans in their backyards, the bigger the better? It provides a free flow of money into their pockets. You can hardly get enough potable water, and when you do it is not drinkable as per WHO standards. Owners of individual homes have to incur huge expenditure on wells, pipelines, pumps, towers and storage tanks; plus maintenance costs. What really does government do for you? Yet, the estimated cost of the Ravindra Bhavan being built at Fatorda is Rs131,168,774. The tendered cost/work order value is Rs171,701,321. Here's an example also of how comfy life is made for the ruling class in paradise. The cabin and green house for the director -who will undoubtedly be a political mandarin- will cost Rs 364,245. The greenbacks that are to be made can, well, make you green about the gills. The estimated cost of the stage lighting, drapery, acoustics etc is Rs20,098,042. The tendered cost is Rs23,757,726. The figures for acoustics insulation with water proofing to the roofing are Rs1,614,105 and Rs1,692,900. If that was meant to make you green with envy, this will make you gnash your teeth. The tendered cost for installing a fire hydrant system is Rs3,290,846. If eventually there will be no water to feed the hydrant, surely there must be a huge windfall here. The air conditioning was tendered at Rs10,104,137. Brrr. Finally, the estimated cost of the Ravindra Bhavan (civil works only) is Rs67,542,401. The tendered cost Rs105,649,050. All this to sit 1100 well heeled on 28,454 sq mts land acquired from the aam aadmi for peanuts.
Aid and abet
Why is Bharati Shipyard so keen to push ahead with its expansion plans in Chicalim? There are several factors. It wants to invest Rs1,500 cr in shipbuilding because with an estimated $5 billion worth of export orders currently, the shipbuilding industry in India is on cloud nine. Bharati's shipyards' are located at Ghodbunder, near Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Kolkata. Besides, a Rs600 cr Greenfield project is being set up at the Mangalore SEZ (believe me these fully-exempt-from-tax, for export-only hand-outs come shrouded in many ways) for which it intends to dismantle and transfer the entire machinery from the 130-year old Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Shipyard Ltd it acquired last year. The asset buyout saves costs and time taken to set up a new shipyard. It also tied up with Apeejay Shipping to build a Rs2,000 cr shipyard on the east coast. With these kinds of expansion plans, rumours have it, Bharati is willing to bankroll the political clout needed?
Your enemy's enemy is my friend
The consequence of this is the back-door incorporation of the no objection to Bharati building a supposed shipbuilding institute in the memorandum of understanding, MPT signed with the Mormugao Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) that never for an instant set out to fight this issue in the first place. The MBA that has no jurisdiction over Chicalim was launched only to stop the fishing jetty from being built at Vaddem, in Vasco. The Chicalim Villagers Action Committee formed before the MBA to stop Bharati's expansion plans, claims the company is destroying the breeding ground of several species of shellfish; that the shipbuilding institute is nothing but a deception to further its expansion plans. In the event, Goa's coastline and rivers have been degraded by a succession of shams, before they were exposed, in the past and present. Then suddenly from out of this funded political clout emerges a counter-group claiming the institute will - low and behold - train locals to become welders. It produced this 22-carat nugget: that shipbuilding is eco-friendly. A former electrician of the very same Tyneside shipyard won £1m damages after developing a fatal asbestos-related lung cancer. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma and is only likely to live until early 2009. The judge giving the ruling said he was in close proximity to insulation fitters and others working with asbestos at the yard.
Little knowledge is a dangerous thing
As for the canard about the institute producing local welders, arguably the most health and occupational hazardous job in the industry. Here's news for them. Shipbuilding today is about computer numerical cutting machines, submerged arc welding and auto-cut where drawings are computerized. About, modular style of construction in which entire blocks are prefabricated and jointed into sections. It has moved a long time ago out of welding individual plates together. If you missed the point, it's all about reducing workforce. As for shipbuilding being eco-friendly. Not true either. Workers are exposed to asbestos in eight different ways, exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls in seven ways and also exposed to lead. Here's another thought for them: will a company willing to transship equipment and machinery all the way from England to save costs and time, set up a high-cost training institute, when the Institute of shipbuilding Technology in Vasco can train eight welders simultaneously in eight specially equipped booths? Does it need 44,000 sq mts (it has a total of 1,39,170 sq mts) for this? In fact ISBT has for decades been training welders and other categories of workforce for the industry.
Oil struck in Bogmolo?
A couple of days before someone decided to call in the media, I saw a migrant worker filling, by skimming off residues floating on the water, two bottles of fuel at the ancient spring in Palimand, Bogmolo, that in my opinion looks more combustible than high speed diesel oil or petrol. Media reports varied on which. Obviously that someone knew the cat was out of the bag because the problem is older than what sarpanch Laxman kavlekar claims it was. Perilously, the tanks are at least 1 km or more away and therefore the leaks could spread elsewhere. How far, could not be ascertained because the Navy will not allow anyone inside its base. There is explosive danger here that the Navy and the Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho must resolve quickly and go beyond the now almost daily photo-opportunity. The leaking fuel has already contaminated a private well nearby, a fact hidden from journalists. Earlier the well of the St. Cosme and Damian Church a distance away was contaminated. Evidently, some one or some persons in the Bogmolo and Chilcona panchayat are covering up their tracks.
(Feedback 9822152164, 0832-2280935, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
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