Ahmedabad, Nov 26: Greenpeace today termed as "illegal and irresponsible" the Gujarat Pollution Control Board's (GPCB) directive to Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to remove asbestos and other hazardous waste on board Genova Bridge and store it at a landfill in the hinterlands of the state. "GPCB has continuously violated the polluter pays principle and routinely assists polluters by taking on the hazardous and pricey job of decontamination upon themselves at state expense, instead GPCB should immediately contact V Shipping International to come to Alang Ship breaking yard and execute the clean-up, according to Basel Convention and Supreme Court directives", Greenpeace campaigner Ramapatil Kumar said.
GPCB has ignored apex court order on Hazardous Waste Management Rules (amendment, 2003) which directs "SPCBS (State Pollution Control Board) to ensure that ship should be properly decontaminated by the ship owner before breaking".
The same order also reiterates ban on import of 29 items including waste asbestos (dust and fibers) following the Centre's ban on import of asbestos waste in 1998, it said. Meanwhile, at the International Maritime Organisations (IMO) annual meeting Greenpreace is urging IMO delegates to strengthen and improve regulations covering the breaking of end-of-life ships, the release added. Bureau Report