Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Alang ship-breaking yard in Gujarat is in the thick of controversy again. A US ship, Platinum II, allegedly loaded with highly dangerous toxic waste has been permitted to dock off the Alang coast before it is to be broken down for scrap.
This has caused environmentalists to press the alarm button. It is estimated that the ship contains over 200 tonnes of toxic asbestos and polychloride biphenyl, which could leach into the sea and contaminate the marine ecosystem.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has now stepped in.
MoS Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh has said, "I have ordered an enquiry. No permission has been given for the breaking of ship, which means no toxic waste has been taken out of the ship yet."
Alang is the leading centre of the worldwide shipbreaking industry. For long, environmentalists have led a raging battle against ships sent here for breakage making it a toxic graveyard for the thousands who work there. And it's not the first time it has let in a toxic ship.
In 2006, French ship Clemenceau was temporarily stopped by the Supreme Court from entering India because of 500 tonnes of asbestos on it. In the same year another French ship Blue Lady was stopped, but finally allowed permission for breakage.
In the case of the Platinum II, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has refused permission till a two-member enquiry team has completed its investigations. Ironically, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board has given its nod for breakage of the ship at Alang.
A Gujarat Pollution Control Board member said, "We had inspected the ship and submitted our report. There is no waste, oil etc. It is normal as compared to the Blue Lady."
While the Gujarat Pollution Control Board may have given the permission for the ship's breaching, the ball is now in the Environment Ministry's court.
(With inputs from Juhi Chaudhary in New Delhi)
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