Ship breaking in India

[krishnan]

Should India seriously reconsider moving / halting the huge Ship-breaking facility at Alang, Gujarat?

For the benefit of those who wanted to know what it is visit Greenpeace site @ http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/whatis.asp.

Alang is a place where more than half of the world's retired ships are broken / destructed for its valuable steel. As it brings out more employment opportunities, it's also an environmental and ecological hazard.

Already India has a bad track-record in maintaining its natural resources. What should be our priority now? A job to thousands, economy or environment? A tricky question where it's not easy to get an answer.

Apart from the ecological system, the safety and health conditions of these relatively underpaid / poor workers are even at a greater risk.

For reports related to main challenges to the to humanity and ecosystem visit the Greenpeace or Unesco reports

Greenpeace.

http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/

Unesco

http://www.unesco.org/csi/act/india/alang.htm

PS.

Greenpeace even runs a video at their shipbreak homepage. Man I can't even imagine how bad environment it is for people to work on.

[krishnan]

Wow!! Series of interesting events are unfolding here.

Greenpeace protests against sending an asbestos warship here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4605374.stm

India's supreme court, recommends the ship to stay out of Indian waters,

http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/output/News/81787a79-62a9-4672-b2e6-f3a473662a10.aspx

Egyptian government clears the ship's path, allows the ship to pass thru Suez to reach India

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4615662.stm

Greenpeace intensifies its protests - https://ctk.greenpeace.org/gp-en/ctk-letters/get-info?letter%5fid=2007657 by intensifying the "Send back Clemenceau" campaign. Click on the link to support Greenpeace efforts.

Given below is a good place to get an update on the latest of this story

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/Clemenceauasebestostoxicshipindia

Now the ball is on Indian government / SC's court. Hope that they deal with it in a responsible manner now.

[Lambretta]

Interesting articles, Krishnan!
Its high time they thot of caring abt the workers over there!
Tat French ship Clemeceau looks like a nice old one tho! Pity it has to be broken...... :)

[krishnan]

Well, it could be tricky than we can think of. While environment should be topmost priority, one should also consider huge economy that's driving Bhavnagar area in particular (South Asia in general). If India decides to shutdown the facilities, then they should come up with alternative solution for the workers out there. And unfortunately someone has to do the dirty work of breaking ships. So why don't we do it better way?

I believe modernising the facilities that adheres to environmental standards is the only way out. Unfortunately modernisation means more cost for the shipping companies.

For example Greenpeace does talk highly of Pipayav yard in India.

Pipayav - http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/travelreport_pipavav.asp

It's pathetic that Pipayav have to wait for orders. The situation of Pipayav yard, indicates that the shipping companies are not willing to pay more for Shipbreaking. They should also understand that modernisation costs them money too. So the initiative I believe beyond of Indian government's or for that matter beyond the ship-breaking countries reach. All involved has to co-operate. The Shipping companies, the shipbreaking facilities, the operators, Indian and all foriegn governments involved everyone should do their part. Otherwise the money will be pumped in to yards like Pipayav and the ship owners will keep sending their ships to cheaper ones that does not adhere to environmental standards (as long as such facilities exist).

Despite modernisation, I think India and other South Asian countries can still win contracts the IT way - meaning cheap labour. But the shipping companies / countries also should understand that while the cost will be less than the West, it will go up than what they pay now for larger good.

Bottomline: Strike a balance between economy and environment, and make sure that environment gets its due.