AHMEDABAD, January 21: The pollution level at the Alang-Sosiya Ship Breaking Yard (ASSBY) Asia's biggest is well within legal parameters, according to studies by the Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) and Metallurgical & Engineering Consultants (India) Limited (MECON).However, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has been asked to continuously monitor pollution levels and adopt certain measures to keep them in check. GEC had been asked by GMB to look into charges of environmental degradation. Similarly, the Union Ministry of Steel had roped in MECON to verify the allegations independently. Both agencies submitted their reports recently.On pollution caused by heavy-metal based chemicals, as also by oil and grease, the GEC report states that though pollution by oil and grease is well within the norms - except at the ship-breaking plots - efforts should be made to minimise its escape into the marine system in view of its low natural biodegradability. The level of heavy metals was also found within acceptablelimits, but the commission recommended constant monitoring to ensure that the level did not build up.The MECON report clearly states that content of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), a banned chemical, was nil in the sea water. The report recommends thorough checking of ships before being brought to the yard. According to GMB authorities, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently between GMB and the Shipbreakers Association, scraping of paint in the ship-breaking yard was banned, and the ban is being implemented strictly.An Environment Action Plan proposed by GEC has recommended that GMB act as a custodian for the area's marine ecology. ``It is essential that GMB is armed with requisite authority to deal with such a marine task otherwise management of Alang will continue to be below standard, further growth of ASSBY will be halted and ecological degradation will continue unchecked,'' the report says.For managing the marine ecosystem, the emphasis is on controlling human waste and spillage of oil and grease. Besides, GMB has been asked to go for complete revision of the system for off-loading oil and eliminating spillage.The area between workers' homes and the ship-breaking plots has been marked for the development of an extensive green belt, complete with mangroves and plantations that will resist soil erosion. The two agencies have suggested that the GMB regenerate the mangroves in the yard and along the coastline on a war-footing to arrest erosion.The reports also contain references to Alang's potential and suggest that the yard be developed by providing modern facilities and ensuring proper pollution control measures to tap the increased availability of ships meant for breaking.Surprisingly, there have been no environmental guidelines for the ship breaking industry. In August last year, the Union Ministry of Environment formed a committee to formulate the guidelines. Its first meeting was held on August 20 but a formal guideline is yet to be issued.
