Minutes of the meeting of the Inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) held on 04.02.2009 under the Chairmanship of Shri B.S. Meena, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser (AS&FA), Ministry of Steel.
…
A list of participants is enclosed.
2. Welcoming the participants, the Chairman initiated the discussions and reviewed the progress of the follow up action taken on the minutes of the last meeting held on 28.2.2008 as per details given below:
A) Mandatory use of personal protective equipment
The representative of Directorate General of Factory Advice and Service Labour Institute (DGFASLI) explained that they have carried out the study at Alang and found that the workers are covered and provided with personal protective equipment (PPE). He however, stated that quality of PPE was not of the requisite quality and GMB and the employers need to ensure that better quality PPE are provided to the workers. The representatives of GMB clarified that they are giving basic safety training to workers and about 8000 workers have been trained. The fatal accident rate is at present nil at Alang. Some of the other important findings of the study were also discussed as follows:-
i) Ship Recycling Procedure – The representative of GMB stated that the ship recycling procedures being followed in Alang are in tune with the International Maritime Organization guidelines and other best practices. It was mentioned that the delegates of IMO in their recent visits to Alang have acknowledged that the practices and procedures in vogue at Alang are as per the requirement.
ii) Hazardous Waste Management – The representatives of GMB and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) explained that they are handling the hazardous waste at Alang, as per the regulations. So far, they have deposited more than 7000 Metric tonnes of hazardous waste in their Treatment Storage Disposal Facility (TSDF). It was mentioned that the recommendations of the Expert Committee, which have been accepted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide their judgement dated 6.9.2007, on handling of hazardous waste are also being implemented at Alang.
iii) Handling of Polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs) and other hazardous wastes – The GMB and GPCB representatives informed that the PCB material and other hazardous waste on the ships are being handled as per the laid down procedure and regulations in the matter.
iv) Housing facility - On the Chairman’s observation that the GMB and the Ship Breakers Association should pay attention to providing housing facility to the workers, the representative of GMB explained that they acquired the required land for the purpose. During the discussions, a view also emerged that the GMB could consider renewal of lease of plot of the ship breaker only if appropriate care has been taken to provide needful facilities including housing to the workers. It was also proposed that initially about 2000-3000 dwelling units may be constructed and the cost estimates worked out. The GMB could find out ways and means to implement the welfare schemes including provision of housing and if necessary, could also consider imposing some kind of cess on the ship breakers for providing these facilities to workers. The GMB, the Ferrous Scrap Committee (FSC) and Iron Steel Scrap & Ship Breaking Association of India (ISSSAI) could also examine the option of a tripartite arrangement to find with an expeditious solution including a detailed Plan of Action for the housing facilities for workers. It was also advised that the legal aspects concerned with the matter may be carefully kept in purview. Inputs could also be obtained from the Ministry of Labour who may have valuable experience in carrying out such welfare activities for workers.
[Action: GMB/ISSAI/FSC]
v) Sanitation – The Chairman observed that adequate sanitation facility in the plots for ship breaking should be provided as absence of such facilities would affect health and productivity of the workers. He desired that a team of Ministry of Labour, FSC, and Ministry of Steel and ISSAI may visit various plots to examine the issue and submit a report expeditiously.
[Action: DGFASLI/FSC]
B) Starting of Trust Hospital – The Chairman expressed concern over the fact that the Red Cross Society Hospital at Alang is not able to cater to the needs of the workers for specialized treatments and there has been delay in starting the Trust Hospital at Alang. The representative of GMB stated that a fresh study on the subject will be carried out by them and the issue will be given high priority.
[Action: GMB]
C) Phasing out smaller plots – The representative of GMB clarified that there is no action pending as they are no longer allotting smaller plots and the smaller plots, which were earlier allotted, have also been converted into bigger plots.
[No action]
D) Mandatory use of gas detectors – The representative of DG, FASLI stated that as the provision of gas detectors is being complied with, the matter has been settled.
[No action]
E) Definition of Ship – The representative of DG, Shipping stated that the matter is at the final stage. It is being vetted by the Ministry of Law, on receipt of which all concerned will be informed about the definition of the ship as per Rules/Act, and Admiralty Act.
[(Action: Ministry of Shipping]
F) Participation in Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and other International meetings– The representative of DG, Shipping stated that the next meeting of MEPC will be likely to be held in the last week of Feb. 2009. The representative of FSC suggested that since the Ministry of Steel is concerned with the ship breaking, representative from the Ministry of Steel may also be associated in the delegation for national/international meetings on ship breaking matters. The Chairman also directed the representative of DG, Shipping to note the same.
[Action: Ministry of Shipping]
G) Making available documents of MEPC – The representative of DG, Shipping was advised by the Chairman that the set of relevant documents pertaining to participation in MEPC should be made available to Ministry of Steel and also to members of ISSAI.
[Action: Ministry of Shipping]
H) Radiological study of works by Indian Red Cross – The representative of DG, FASLI observed, as decided, that they had conducted a study on 351 workers and requested the GMB for their X-rays records. However, till now, the GMB has sent only 72 X-rays reports. The representative of GMB explained that the workers were of migratory nature and therefore, it has been difficult to obtain the remaining reports as their whereabouts are not known. As such, it was decided a fresh Study will be undertaken by DG, FASLI where infrastructure will be provided by GMB all the X-rays will be done on the same day. The help of Indian Red Cross society may also be taken for establishing the camp, if possible.
[Action GMB and DGFASLI]
I) Issue of gas free for hot work and other services under the Petroleum Rules .
It was clarified that the matter has been settled vide MOEF communication dated 30 th Sept.2008 as under:-
The Ministry of Environment & Forest (MOEF) have intimated that they have filed affidavit in the Supreme Court about the above agreement and also that the other issues raised in the petition will be taken care of at the time of finalization of the Code.
The Chairman observed that while the above issue stands settled, in case, any organization has any grievances, in respect of the affidavits filed by MOEF, they may contact the MOEF to sort it out.
[No action]
J) Security Concerns – Both therepresentative of the Coast Guard and the representative from Naval HQ raised concerns over the entry of ships carrying hazardous cargo to Alang for ship breaking and how no information is made available to them regarding the movement of ships to Alang. Besides this there was no information regarding whether the Alang Port is compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. In the context of the present security concerns in the country, the Chairman advised the representative of the Ministry of Shipping, the GMB officials, the Coast Guard representative and the Naval HQs to address the issue expeditiously so that the security gaps are taken care of and also to verify whether the port at Alang has implemented the ISPS codes.
The Coast Guard representative and the Naval HQ representative also expressed apprehensions that the vessels coming in for beaching sometimes ply very close to the oil rigs, which could be a potential for accidents. Though the representative of the DG, Shipping clarified that the ships are to ply on pre-determined chartered routes, it was emphasized that the preventive measures on such matters need to be strengthened and ensure due compliance by all. The Chairman directed that the Ministry of Shipping may organize a meeting on the matter with GMB, Naval HQ and Coast Guard HQ, Custom etc. immediately and ensure that gaps in the security frame-work issues are addressed immediately.
[Action: Ministry of Shipping]
3. On the issue of registration of the workers at Alang providing Identity cards containing their details as per a common format was discussed and the need for such a card also emphasized from the security point of view. It was decided that this issue may be resolved by the GMB in consultation with the shipbreakers/employers and vis-à-vis the existing procedures by other Port Authorities for issue of such Identity cards. It was also decided that the expenditure on the issue of the I-card will be borne by the Ship breakers/employers and the implementation will be ensured expeditiously.
[Action: GMB/ISSAI]
4. As regards worker’s health, the representatives of the Gujarat Maritime Board were also advised to regularly conduct health camps to cover all the workers and the results of such health camps be reported in the next meeting of the IMC. They may also in consultation with the ship breakers/employers take all necessary steps to ensure that the provident fund contributions, payment of wages and other statutory contributions in respect of the workers are being carried out/complied with fully as per the relevant Rules and Acts.
[Action: GMB/ISSAI]
5. On the issue of some likely adverse impacts of the steel quality control order on the ship breaking industry raised by the President, ISSSAI, it was mentioned that though the concerns of the ship breaking industry were appreciated, the IMC would not be the appropriate forum to examine it and may therefore be referred to the appropriate Division in the Ministry of Steel for consideration.
[Action: MF Desk of the Ministry of Steel]
6. Concluding the discussions, the Chairman desired that the progress on the follow-up taken would be reviewed in the next meeting of the IMC.
The Meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
ANNEXURE-I
List of participants