NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding environmental
and human rights issues, the ship-breaking industry is thriving in the country
with the government allowing at least 450-500 ships to come to India for
dismantling every year.
This has also turned out to be profitable
for the government which has been making more than Rs 1,500 crore a year from
customs duty on allowing import of such outdated ships. In fact, some coastal
states such as Gujarat have urged the Centre to bring down the customs duty so
that more ships can be imported for dismantling.
Every day, thousands of workers engaged in
shipbreaking are exposed to radioactive waste considered dangerous for human
life. Even areas around ship-breaking yards and the sea water gets contaminated
and unfit for habitation or for marine life.
A petition filed in the apex court had
argued that toxic metals and gases were exposed to the environment and affected
a large population. Mostly, shipbreaking activities are carried out along the
Mumbai port and Alang in Gujarat.
In the last four years, at least 1,850
ships have been imported to India for breaking and recycling of scrap. The
government made over Rs 4,700 crore in the last four years from customs duty on
these ships.
Besides risks to workers engaged in the
shipbreaking industry, it generates lead particles and releases metal particles
in the air which is dangerous for the health of people in the area who are
inhaling toxic air. Exposure to toxic air has already resulted in people in
large numbers having reported diseases like high blood pressure, heart diseases
and psychological problems. Presence of asbestos is said to have caused cancer
to people exposed to shipbreaking activities.
Source: times
of india. 19 March 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment