Minutes of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) held on 21.9.2006
A list of participants is at Annexure.
2 Welcoming the participants, Chairman, IMC mentioned that meeting of the IMC should be held at regular intervals. He said that the next meeting of the Committee would be held in November, 2006.
3 Chairman then took up the Agenda items and a gist of discussions that followed are given as under:-
(i) Mandatory use of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs):-
The Marine Engineer, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) who was representing GMB informed that the PPEs identified by DG, FASLI covered all activities of ship recycling and that a Committee has been formed to check whether PPEs are being implemented or not by the ship breakers and workers. The defaulters are penalized. The minimum penalty under GMB rules and regulations is Rs.10, 000/- and maximum is closing down the yard for 5 days. He further informed that in last 6 months about 25 plot owners have been penalized.
The representative of Mumbai Port Trust informed that checks are made after every 2-3 days to ascertain whether PPEs are being used. He added that in last 6 months only 2 ships have been broken in Mumbai. There is general decline in activity because freight market is good and old ships are being used more for commercial purposes. At the same time, the ship recyling business in Bangladesh has gone up. However, it is expected that many oil tankers would become available for recycling after 2008.
For removal of hazardous waste, representative of GMB clarified that GMB is outsourcing an agency for this job including removal of asbestos. To a query by Chairman, he clarified that hazardous waste is being dumped in authorized land fill sites as per guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board/State Pollution Control Board. Chairman suggested that the workers should be sensitized about the dangers of hazardous waste and the hazards involved in ship breaking and they should be encouraged to obtain PPEs from the ship owners. In order to assess the actual situation regarding supply of PPEs by shipbreakers and their use by workers, Chairman asked DG, FASLI to send a team to Alang and submit a report in the matter.
(ii) Starting of Trust Hospital:-
Marine Engineer, GMB informed that nothing has progressed in the matter.Chairman, remarked that there seems some problem in starting the Hospital. Chairman, mentioned that efforts should be made by GMB to remove the bottlenecks in starting the hospital at the earliest. He suggested that till this matter is finalized, the existing Indian Red Cross Society Hospital should be equipped to provide special wards for burn and occupational diseases.
(iii) Comprehensive policy of GMB and allotment of smaller plots
Marine Engineer, GMB stated that the new policy is expected tobe notified soon. He confirmed that in the new policy there is a provision for allotment of suitable size of big plots only. It was advised that unsuitable smaller plots should not be allotted by GMB in future.
(iv) Training by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB):-
Marine Engineer, GMB informed that orders for procurement of instruments suggested by AERB have been given. When available, these items will be used to check presence of radio active material on each and every ship imported for breaking.
(v) Mandatory use of gas detectors:-
It was confirmed by ME, GMB that gas detectors are being used at every stage of breaking of ships.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
List of Participants: -
1 Shri A.K.Rath, AS&FA. Ministry of Steel
2 Shri K.A.S. Deo Joint Secretary -do-
3 Shri Navin Soi, Deputy Secretary. -do-
4 Smt.Sunita, Under Secretary -do-
5 Shri M.Subba Rao, Additional Director., Ministry of Environment and Forests
6 Shri G.K.Basak, Executive Secretary, JPC, Kolkatta
7 Ms. Divya Sinha, Env. Enginer, Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi.
8 Shri M.M.Khatri, Marine Engineer, Gujarat Martime Board, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
9 Shri R.G.Shah, E.E, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
10 Shri T.V.Sowrirajan, Addl. Docks Manager, Mumbai Port Trust, Mumbai.
11 Shri S.K.Saxena, Director General, FASLI, Mumbai.