Mumbai, Nov 16: Greenpeace activists have demanded the
prosecution of ''criminals'' who have dumped the hazardous waste at
Alang ship-breaking yard in Gujarat and expressed surprise on the
proposed action against Greenpeace's International crew of
campaigning vessel rainbow warrior.
Greenpeace activists were reacting against the reports that the
Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has sought help from navy and customs
to arrest the international crew of rainbow warrior, following their
expose of a British company that is dumping hazardous and toxic
waste at Alang, in clear contravention of Indian and international
laws.
Greenpeace flagship, Rainbow Warrior is anchored off Alang and
Bhavnagar for last two days, to bear witness and document toxic
materials aboard ships-for-scrap, which leads to adverse impact on
the fragile aquatic environment.
''It is well known that huge amounts of hazardous substances are
being illegally dumped on the beaches and the sea near the ship
breaking yards'', Greenpeace officials said.
''Instead of taking action against criminal companies and
governments that are using our shores as dumping grounds for ''toxic
waste'' in a clear contempt of the supreme court directives, i am
surprised that the Gujarat authorities have chosen to target
Greenpeace. We are an environmental watch-dog group, we have exposed
the shocking behaviour of the UK government and the ship-owner.
Clearly there are vested interests at work, when authorities choose
to ignore the criminals and go after the witnesses'' said
Ananthapadmanabhan, executive director, Greenpeace India.
On November 12, 2003, rainbow warrior arrived at Alang on the
first leg of its 'corporate accountability tour of India' to find
that a UK ship 'Genova Bridge' had beached at Alang, laden with
toxic substances like PCBs, asbestos, waste oil sludge, TBT.
Genova Bridge, was beached on November 09, 2003 even as the
British authorities refused to give permission to US naval ships
(the controversial ghost fleet) for scrapping on their shores
following environmental concerns raised by public, environmental
organisations and the authorities themselves.
Bureau Report
