Sachana ship breaking yard gets GPCB clearance

Sachana ship breaking yard in Jamnagar has received the clearance from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) after being shut down for the last three months. Sources at the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) said that after the clearance, ship breaking work has begun in three plots.

Three months ago, GPCB had served closure notice to the yard for violating the rules regarding the disposal and storage of the hazardous chemicals.

The Board decided to revise its notice after the Ship Breakers' Association constructed a 'pucca' storage tank and affluent disposal facilities in the yard.

GMB has marked 15 plots for ship breaking. Though the Sachana yard was constructed before the Alang yard in Bhavnagar, its proximity to the Marine National Park meant that ship breaking was carried on a very low scale.

But in the last three years the activities have been geared up, said a member of the yard. Till date 40 ships have been broken in the Sachana yard.

Sources at the Sachana yard also alleged poor political leadership for the under development of the yard. The maritime board did not pay any attention to the basic facilities needed for the growth, they said.

"As many as 600 labourers work in the yard. We had to privately arrange for electricity and water," said a member of the Ship Breakers' Association.

The yard can play a vital role in the boosting up the economic activities in the still rolling sector in Jamnagar. Sources at GMB said that the state government has commenced the work to put in place necessary infrastructure in the yard.