Centre asks Gujarat govt not to allow breaking of US ship

The Centre today asked Gujarat government not to allow beaching and breaking of a US ship anchored off Alang port as a technical team has found high levels of toxic material and radioactive substances in it.
    
In a letter to the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), the Ministry of Environment and Forest said the ship 'Platinum-II' violated the United States Toxic Substances Control Act. There are allegations that the ship has been brought into India with a falsified flag and registry.
    
"In light of these facts and in keeping with the Precautionary Principle, the Ministry of Environment and Forest is of the view that granting permission for beaching and breaking purpose of the ship will not be advisable," the letter said.
    
The MoEF had constituted a technical team to conduct an inspection of the ship. The team submitted its report to the ministry on October 26.
    
In its report, the five-member team said all hazardous waste like asbestos-containing material (ACM) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and radioactive material were found to be present in the ship in its structure as is prevalent in any ship of this type.