Panaji, Sep 8 (IANS): The Bombay High Court Wednesday asked the Goa government to start within two months the formal process for removal of a ship that had run aground at Candolim beach here nearly a decade ago.

The Panaji bench of the high court told Advocate General Subodh Kantak to ask the government to make necessary arrangements to remove the vessel, M.V. River Princess, before the next monsoon.

"The vessel should be removed from the beach before the next monsoon," a division bench comprising Justice D.G. Karnik and Justice F.M. Reis said, after hearing a petition filed by an NGO, River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM).

The RPHM in its petition said the state government was not concerned about removing the vessel that has been threatening to crumble on the beach itself and wreck the tourism prospects of the area.

The beach stretch from Calangute to Candolim, 15 km from here, is one of the most popular tourist hubs in the state.

According to a state government report, the presence of the vessel has already resulted in the erosion of an entire adjoining beach of Sinquerim.

The RPHM also said that prompt action was needed to heave away the rusty vessel before it disintegrated.

Kantak told the court that government has already initiated a process inviting tenders to remove the vessel.

"The state government by next week will name the company, which will be awarded the tender," he assured the court.

River Princess had beached at Candolim on a stormy night in June 2000, and several attempts made by successive government to heave it have failed.