GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1332
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2024
NORMS FOR SHIP BREAKING YARDS
1332. DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:
SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:
SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

a) the number of workers employed at various ship breaking yards in the country and the details of ship breaking yards, State-wise, along with the quantity and kind ofwaste generated at these yards;

(b) whether the workers in these yards are reported to be facing health hazards due to negligent waste disposal practices;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to improve waste disposal practices for well being of these workers: and
(d) whether there is an urgent need for a regulatory framework for the ship breaking industry in the country and if so, the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)In Alang, Gujarat it is estimated that there are about 6500 to 7000 workers employed. In Alang, at present there are about 104 operational yards. In Azhikkal, Kerala there are about 15 workers employed. In Kerala, ship breaking is carried out by Steel Industrials Kerala Limited. In Kolkata, West Bengal there are about 130 workers employed. In Kolkatta, ship breaking is carried out at in Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.

Waste Collection Data:

Gujarat: InAlang, in last 10 year quantity of waste generated on an average is 7850 MT
per year .
Kinds of waste generated:

1. Secured Land Fill (Ceramics, Garbage, Glass, Rusted Iron scale, Incinerated Ash) -548.490 MT,

2. Solidification/Stabilization (Glass wool, cooling powder, Asbestos, Asbestos containing Material) 49711.450 MT,

3. Incinerable (Booch, Thermocol, Oil sludge, Paint chips, puff, rubber, contaminated sand, Oily rags, PV and Plastics- 7395.190 MT,

4. Waste Water(Bilge water, Contaminated water)- 20899.225 MT.

Kerala: In Steel Industrials Kerala Limited (SILK)-In last 10 years total quantity of waste generated-10 MT ie about an average of 1MT per year. Kind of Waste generated: 50 % Puff waste, 30 % wood waste, 10 % Fibre waste, 10 % Hazardous waste.

Kolkata: In Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in the last 3 years total quantity of waste generated-9 MT ie about an average of 3MT per year.Kind of Waste generated: 80 % Iron, 15 % wood and 5 % Non-ferrous.

(b) No case has been reported pertaining to health hazards due to handling and Disposal of waste.

(c) Not Applicable.

(d) Ship Breaking Code 2013 is comprehensive regulatory framework modelled upon Hong Kong Convention (HKC), 2009. This Code addresses safety, health and environmental aspects pertaining to ship recycling. The preventive and monitoring measures to curtail occupational health related issues have been addressed in the procedural requirements of Ship Breaking Code, 2013.