Ahmedabad: The Union Ministry of
Environment & Forests (MoEF) has sought information from the
Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Gujarat Maritime
Board (GMB) on a ship that has come for dismantling at Alang
which is alleged of carrying hazardous toxic substance.
"We have sought information from the GPCB and GMB with
regard to a ship docked in Alang following an email by the
Indian Platform on Shipbreaking," Director, Focal Point
Basel Convention, Hazardous Substances Management Division
(MoEF), Dr Saroj said.
Convener of Indian Platform on Shipbreaking (IPOS), Gopal
Krishna, in a letter dated October 10 had written to the MoEF
that a ship from the US Platinum II (formerly SS Independence)
which had anchored at Alang Shipbreaking yard in Bhavnagar
district, was carrying hazardous toxic waste including
radioactive substances.
"This 682 foot ocean liner is loaded with an estimated
210 tons of toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated
material and an estimated 250 tons of asbestos as part of its
construction," Krishna wrote in the letter and demanded that
the ship should be sent back to the US.
Environment officer of GMB Atul Sharma said that the
ship, brought in by Kampas Shiping Agency, Alang, is being
inspected for hazardous substance and inspection will go on
for the next 10 to 15 days.
Bureau Report
