Review Alang facilities, SC tells Centre

Though the controversial French ship Clemenceau has been recalled, the Alang ship-breaking industry is in for a radical reformation.

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to set up an expert committee to assess the infrastructure at the Alang complex, safety measures available and other aspects, and submit a report to it within two months.

Though the asbestos-laden ship has gone back, the problem was a recurring one, a Bench comprising of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S H Kapadia said.

The first requirement, therefore, is to review the infrastructure at Alang, the Bench said, adding it should also be examined if the facilities were fully operational and capable of dealing with the hazardous and polluting nature of the industry. The committee has been asked to upgrade the facilities if they were found inadequate.

It will also consider codification of the various norms and guidelines laid down by the Basel Convention, the Supreme Court and the government.

The Alang complex, considered to be the world's second largest ship-breaking centre, has no uniform norms for accepting ships for breaking.

The extent of disorder in the industry was indicated by counsel Murlidhar's allegation of two Danish ships having illegallly entered Alang after changing their names. The Danish government had prohibited the ships from moving out of its waters.

The Bench said it was not against the industry as such. But, in this age of globalisation, it said, India should have a level-playing field. Therefore, the committee should take a balanced view of all aspects, including the fact that the ship-breaking industry is a labour-intensive one.