The ship was beached at Alang on 3.4.2005. The officers from Customs, Gujarat Maritime Board, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Gujarat Pollution Control Board have verified and found that there is no hazardous waste on board of the ship.
This information was given by Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena in a written reply to Member of Parliament, Ekanath Thakur in the Rajya Sabha on 13th May 2005.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=9239 The fact is the ship landed at Alang on the night of 22nd April, 2005. Sources in Ahmedabad have informed that CPCB did find asbestos on board. The Minister has misled the Parliament and has attempted to misinform the Supreme Court that as per its order "Decontamination of ships before they are exported to India for breaking" did take place.
Also as per the order "the Iner-Ministerial Committee comprising Ministry of Surface Transport, Ministry of -Steel, Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Environment should be constituted with the involvement of Labour and Environment organizations and representatives of the ship breaking Industries" which has so far not happened.
Under the current situation it would be apt for the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee to inspect the ship.
Earlier when the Supreme Court case on hazardous waste came up for hearing on 9th May, 2005, the court was asked to give directions to ensure that the Danish ship "Ricky" is sent back, which has come illegally at Alang for breaking. The ship contains hazarous Asbestos and actually is a Haz waste and has come against the spirit of Basle Convention and the court order.
It is understood that the court has asked for separate intervention for it to be taken up.
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