Grounded tug gets tugged away, small respite for Arossim beach

Panaji/Cansaulim: The grounded tug, M T Lotus was finally towed away on Monday evening, four days after operations to pull it out from its stranded position on Arossim beach commenced.
The tug had been brought to tow away the grounded pontoon Bhagirath about 10 days ago, but it also washed ashore .
While agitated villagers had been revising their deadline to remove the two stranded vessels frequently, it was some relief to them as one of the eye sores was tugged into the sea just around sunset.
"More machinery in the form of excavators was used to carve a channel to pull the tug to sea," a source said. In a frustrating operation, heaps of sand would be washed back by waves, preventing the tug from being dragged to sea.
A strategy is being worked out now to tow away the pontoon grounded nearby and operations are likely to commence on Tuesday, sources said.
The pontoon had grounded at Arossim beach about a fortnight ago, but both MPT and state ports administration officials had categorically stated that they had not issued approval to Arihant Ship Breakers to anchor the pontoon at the spot.
Fishermen and water sports operators have been complaining that the grounded vessels are obstructing their activities.
RDA minister and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha had, while demanding that the pontoon be removed at the earliest, had asked that action be taken against those responsible for breaking rules.
The ports administration department and marine police officials were supervising the operation on Tuesday.