Sachana ship breaking yard gets closure notice

The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) on Wednesday issued a closure notice to the Sachana ship breaking yard for not following its solid west control and hazardous chemical regulations.

Last month a special team of the GPCB had inspected the Sachana yard. According to the inspection report, facilities for storage, disposal and treatment were not found at the yard.

"In July the pollution board had send a notice to the yard pointing out the flaws there. But the yard authorities didn't respond to the notice," said sources.

Y A Tai, the regional officer at Sachana ship breaking yard, was not available for comments on the closure order issued by the chairman of GPCB, K V Bhanujan.

GPCB, after the recent mishap at Tata Chemicals which led to the leaking of chemicals into the sea at Mithapur, has intensified surveillance at the ongoing offshore operations in Jamnagar.

According to GPCB sources, a directive of the Supreme Court and the statutory provisions made by the GPCB were not being followed by the Sachana ship breaking yard. These orders are mandatory for even local self government bodies such as municipal corporation and municipalities.

On Wednesday, three ships anchored on the Sachana ship breaking yard and the GPCB has issued orders to the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to stop work at the yard. GMB gives permission to breaking ships after receiving necessary environment clearance from authorities, sources said.

A senior GPCB official said that if ship breaking at the Sachana yard is not stopped, action will be initiated through the district collector.

The Sachana ship breaking yard is located in the Marine National Park area and the uncontrolled ship-breaking has damaged the flora and fauna of the MNP.

To examine the extent of the damage, a special team from Gandhinagar has rushed to Jamnagar.

GMB, after constructing basic facilities for breakers at the yard, had closed down the guest house and the office.

Approach road and drinking water facilities were also not maintained by the GMB, even the breakers were carrying on their operations.