Environmental Groups Promise To Fight Scrapping Of Ship -- MesoLink.org -- 08-04-06

Environmental groups from New Delhi have promised that they will fight against the scrapping of a toxic ship in Western India because, they claim, it is laden with toxic waste. Officials from the group state that there is over 1,200 tons of asbestos on the vessel, and that both workers and people in the vicinity could suffer as a consequence of the breakage.

The vessel, called the Blue Lady, was approved for breaking in the area by a panel of experts that were appointed by the Indian government. The dismantling was to take place at the Alang ship breaking yard in Gujarat. However, Greenpeace officials state that they will fight against the decision.

One official from the environmental group stated: "The green signal for it to beach off Gujarat is illegal as the technical committee had no mandate to grant such clearance especially after its term expired on July 31."

He went on to state: "In this case, the Supreme Court has been bypassed and we will challenge in court the committee's approval."