Finally, the verdict is out on the controversial toxic French warship ship. The Supreme Court has said that the decommissioned warship Clemenceau cannot enter Indian waters though the bar on the entry is only till February 17.
In announcing its verdict the Apex Court has rejected the report of its own monitoring committee, which said that the ship can be allowed into the Indian waters! The Court said that the monitoring committee was not a group of experts who could decide on the toxic wastes that were on the ship. Centre has been directed to form a new committee comprising of navy experts who are well versed in the construction and destruction of warships.
In another crucial development, French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday decided to recall the controversial decommissioned aircraft carrier Le Clemenceau. The announcement has saved both Paris and New Delhi a degree of embarrassment since Mr. Chirac is to begin a 24-hour state visit to India on Sunday.
Mr. Chirac's decision came on the heels of a verdict by the country's highest court, the Conseil d'etat, which called upon the Government to recall the asbestos-laden ship that was to be dismantled at a shipyard at Alang, Gujarat.
Greenpeace and other anti-asbestos associations are celebrating! They have been trying for months to prevent the decommissioned French warship from reaching India, calling it an environmental hazard. Although the activists have scored a major victory for the workers in Alang, the economic considerations clearly outweigh any health concerns. The laborers were looking forward to the ship's arrival, as this was a golden opportunity to make money. They claim that the anti-asbestos campaign has had an adverse impact on their livelihood.
(Source Credits: NDTV, Asian Tribune, The Times Of India)
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