National
Clemenceau shouldn't enter India: SC panel ------------------------------------------------- NDTV Correspondent
Watch story
Saturday, January 14, 2006 (New Delhi):
A Supreme Court Monitoring Committee has recommended that decommissioned French warship Clemenceau shouldn't be allowed to enter India.
The committee in its report has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to take urgent steps in this regard.
In a letter to the ministry, the committee said that due to the possibility of Clemenceau carrying about 500 tons of asbestos, its entry into India would violate the apex court's orders.
The committee further said that since the French Government has not met the environmental conditions, the decommissioned ship should not be allowed to enter the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which is 220 nautical miles from the coast.
The ship was to reach India in eight weeks but is being towed very fast. It has crossed the Isle of Malta and any action to be taken should be of an urgent nature.
Adequate steps
The committee has also asked the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to take adequate and effective steps to prevent entry of the ship into India's sovereign waters.
It has also asked the GPCB To put on hold all permissions and consents granted for the entry of the ship into Alang, where it is proposed to be dismantled.
However, sources in the GPCB have told NDTV that they have not received any communication from the committee.
Experts arrive
Meanwhile, a team of French environmental and waste management experts arrived in Gujarat last night to hold discussions with the government on Clemenceau.
The experts held a meeting with Gujarat Maritime Board on Friday and also with GPCB. The team is expected to be in Alang on Monday.
Sources say that the GPCB Chief will comment only after January 20 when the Committee will present its case before the Supreme Court. (With PTI inputs)