Seeks detailed plan on handling of
hazardous waste, oil spillage, radioactive materials
The mandatory clearance for Adani's ship
recycling facility is likely to be delayed. This is because the External
Appraisal Committee (EAC) has sought detailed reports with regards to number of
aspects. The company proposes to make the ship recycling facility operational
within 12 months of mandatory clearances. But the silver lining for APSEZ is
that the EAC has not found any merits in the issues of environment degradation
raised by villagers who are likely to be affected by the project.
Also, the proposed location for the ship
recycling facility is within the limits of the Mundra Port, which was granted
environmental clearance (EC) and CRZ clearance in 2009 for waterfront
development from MoEF. Hence, the pending litigation against the APSEZ in
Gujarat High Court is not likely to impact the project. Furthermore, the EAC
has recommended five year extension of EC and CRZ clearances to APSEZ for
waterfront development activities.
The EAC had decided to defer EC and CRZ
clearance to the ship recycling facility during its meeting held on January
22-24 last month. While deferring the decision on the project the EAC demanded
detailed information on aspects like measures to prevent the spillage of oil and
paint waste on land, sand bund, during ship breaking, along with quantity,
method of disposal of contaminated soil in case of any accidental spillages.
It further sought details of hazardous
wastes disposal system along with details of agreement made with the Treatment
Storage $@$# Disposal Facility (TSDF), their permitted and operational
capacity, EC under EIA Notification, 2006 and authorisation from pollution
control board.
Another aspect the EAC wanted information
on was facility for detection of radioactive materials which may accidentally
or otherwise be present in the ship.
It also asked for action plan for
transportation of waste water, bilge and slop water to the CETP (common
effluent treatment plant), cumulative impact of the existing activities and
proposed activity and proposed green belt near the facility.
On the opposition to the project by local
villagers alleging blockage of creek, destruction of vegetation including
mangroves, impact on fisheries and water pollution, the minutes of the meeting
stated, "The EAC did not find merit in the above stated issues in view of
the plans set forth by the APSEZ."
The EAC also found that the night time
noise level in Dhurb village in vicinity of port was higher than the
permissible level and asked APSEZ to submit measures to mitigate the issue.
The proposed project involves development
of recycling facility adjacent to existing West Port, in Mundra near Vandh
village of Mundra block in Kutch district. The project area covers 40.7432
hectares reclaimed land created by dumping dredge spoils.
In includes recycling of approximately 40
ships annually of average Light Displacement Tonnage (LDT) 7582 tonnes. It is
estimated that nearly 0.25 million tonne (Mt) per year of scrap metal will be
recovered along with 11,000 tonnes per year machinery and 10,000 tonnes per
year of miscellaneous items.
According to APSEZ, the project will
require 60 cubic meter per day of industrial water and 100 cubic meter per day
of potable water. Treated sewage and sea water will be used for dust
suppression and horticulture. The potable water will be supplied by Gujarat
Water Infrastructure Limited tankers or will be drawn from desalination plant
in the West port, while the power will be required only for illumination and in
the offices which will be drawn from the grid.
Source: 28 February 2014
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