Security Threat from Alang Shipbreaking Industry

In its last meeting dated 5th October, 2009, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Shipbreaking deliberated over the national security concerns arising out of unregulated Alang shipbreaking industry. Navel Intelligence have been raising the issue since 2004 and have recommended that all ships coming to Alang must get Ministry of Defence clearance but concer4ned authorities have paid no heed to it so far.

The general issue of control and management of hazardous waste has been under consideration in the Hon’ble Supreme Court in writ petition no. 657 of year 1995 between Research Foundation for Science Technology National Resource Policy and Union of India and others. The various State Governments/Central Ministries were affected in this case and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) was the nodal Ministry.

2 During the course of deliberation, the Hon’ble Supreme Court issued the various orders, the first important order being on 14 th October, 2003. In pursuance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 14 th October, 2003, and at the request of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Steel set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) vide order dated 12 -01-2004 followed by an addendum order dated 20-4-2004 under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary and FA with members of Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), Ministry of Labour, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), Central Pollution Control Board, Indian Steel Scrap and Ship breakers Association of India (ISSSAI), Mumbai Port Trust, Kolkata Port Trust etc. for the implementation of Supreme Court Orders and other related functions.

3 So far, IMC has held eleven meetings on 5-2-2004, 11-6-2004, 19-1-2005, 28-6-2005, 1-02-2006, 21-9-2006, 17-1-2007 & 9-8-2007, 28-2-2008, 4-2-2009 and 5-9-2009; coopted members of other organizations; discussed various issues pertaining to ship breaking industries and issued a large number of directions in line with the Hon’ble Supreme Court Orders.