Karwar: The INS Chapal was brought to Karwar’s shores as an additional attraction for the tourism industry in the district. Unfortunately, the attraction began to spring leaks due to poor maintenance.
The rain water seeped into the warship in spite of lakhs of rupees being spent on repairs over a period of two years. The people of Karwar have alleged that the concerned department did not maintain the warship museum according to standards.
Two years ago, when the warship witnessed a leakage of rain water, the Naval Base spent Rs 18 lakhs on its repairs. But this year, rain water once again started leaking into the war ship. Attempts were made to stop the leakage by covering the upper part of the warship with plastic sheet, however, the measures did not completely stop the leak.
Thousands of tourists visit this ship museum every year except during the monsoon season, and in spite of this, neither the district administration nor the Naval Base have found a permanent solution to the issue so far, members of the public said, expressing their frustration on the issue.
Every year, the district administration receives lakhs of rupees in the form of entry fees to the warship museum, but the people allege that they did not take any interest in permanently solving the issue. The concerned locals also alleged that the district administration spends Rs 10,000 every year on plastic sheets even though it cannot cover the entire ship.
