Gujarat govt announces Ship Recycling Policy

Gujarat government announced `Ship Recycling Policy' to give a boost to the ship recycling industry at Alang, Asia's biggest ship-breaking yard which is passing through a slump. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced the policy. "The state government has decided to implement a new policy for consistent development and uplift of ship recycling industry at Alang where more than 1.50 lakh people get direct or indirect employment," she said in a statement.

Finance Minister Saurabh Patel said the state government and Gujarat Maritime Board formulated the policy to promote the industrial activity at Alang. The policy extends utilisation period of ship-breaking plots to 10 years from five years, and provides for resizing, readjustment, realignment of the plots to enable accommodation of bigger vessels in a safe manner. "Ship recycling is an eco-friendly activity which provides direct-indirect employment to a large number of people. Ship recycling industry fulfils 1-2 per cent steel demand of India and saves substantial amount of natural resources, investment and carbon footprint," Patel said. The policy will be reviewed after three years to ensure its practical implementation, he added. Alang ship-breaking yard comprises 167 plots along a 10-km long coastal strip leased out by the Gujarat Maritime Board.

Since the ship-breaking activities began there in 1983, more than 7,000 vessels have been recycled at Alang.