Sachana Ship Breaking Yard to be operationalized again: Gujarat government

Jamnagar: Sachana based ship breaking yard of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) will be operationalized again after a gap of over 8 years.

The Gujarat government made this announcement today, adding that the decision has been taken as per the High Power committee’s recommendation. The High Power committee was formed by the State government as per the order by the Gujarat High Court.

Sachana is located in Jamnagar district of coastal Saurashtra region. It is a proper place for breaking of small and medium level ships and a ship breaking yard was in operation here since 1977.

However there was a dispute going on regarding the ownership of portion of coastal land in Sachana village. The dispute was about, whether specific land was part of marine sanctuary or it was within the Gujarat Maritime Board limits. The forest department had in year 2012 claimed that particular land was part of marine sanctuary. Following this claim, the Gujarat High Court had in its order dated 11th of May 2012 instructed that ship breaking activities must not take place till approval and clearance is granted from Environment ministry or applicable authority in addition to further order by the court.

In fresh developments, after proceeding in the High Court, and subsequent order dated 19th of February this year, the State government gave opportunity to parties involved for hearing before the High Power committee appointed by the State.

After hearing, the State government through ground survey measured the limits of Sachana village in presence of the officials of forest department and GMB with the help of DLIR. The report of survey was presented in the High Power committee, which further concluded that the border of Sachana village and plots for ship breaking are out of the limits of forest department’s reserved forest section – 4 and Marine sanctuary. The High Power committee decided to return the land to GMB as the plots are within GMB limits.

In view of these developments, the State government has decided to restart ship breaking operations as per the rules of safety, health and nonviolent, provisioned in Ship Breaking Code 2013. With restart of ship breaking industry, more than 10,000 people will get direct and indirect employment and economic activities of entire area will get momentum.