Alang shipbreaking yard, which had drawn flak for ig
noring environment-friendly practices, will get a major boost with Japan
committing Rs1,000 crore for development of the facility according to
international green standards.
The Japan government will extend Rs1,000 crore as soft
loan to the Gujarat government at an interest rate of 1.4% and repayable in 40
years, official sources said.
The officials said that the funding is aimed at making
Alang fully capable of handling all the hazardous waste that comes from vessels
brought for dismantling. Moreover, Japan accounts for nearly 30% of the
shipping business globally and in the upcoming years, many of its ageing ships
can be brought to Alang for dismantling.
The funding will be used in three areas -constructing
a dry dock, upgrading the existing plots to make them more environment friendly
and upgrading the capacity of the present TSDF site where the incinerator has a
capacity of five tones per day. "The dry dock will enable the clean-up of
`special concern' vessels, those which carry large amount of contaminated waste
like asbestos.The waste thus generated will be treated in the TSDF (Treatment
Storage Disposal Facility) site," said Atul Sharma, deputy general manager
(environment cell), Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).
Around Rs 150 crore will also be used for enhancing
facilities of the labourers working at shipbreaking plots. "This
partnership will not only enhance advanced environment management at our ports
but will also boost the business at Alang, re-establishing it as the hub of
ship recycling in the world," said A K Rakesh, chief executive officer,
GMB.
"Once Alang confirms to all the environment
rules, it is expected that even the developed countries will start sending
their vessels for dismantling here, thus boosting the business. Alang will also
become capable to recycle nearly 50% of global shipbreaking business
volume," said Sharma.
Japan team to visit Alang on Jan 12
A high-level 14-member delegation from Japan will
embark on a study visit to Alang and Sosiya ship-breaking yards on January 12.
The delegation will consist of government officials from the ministry of land,
infrastructure, transport and tourism as well as consultants, ship owners and
relevant stakeholders in the maritime and shipbreaking industry.
Source: times of india. 10 January 2015
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