MediaVigil, Journal of Global Communications and Justice

Note: Vested interests who are working overtime to ensure that Star Cruise Limited escapes the decontamination cost of Blue Lady (SS Norway) continue to face trouble despite the exemplary efforts of some Indian officials of easy virtue. The Blue Lady case again came before the Supreme Court on 23 October, 2007. Gopal Subramaniam, the Additional Solicitor General mentioned that an application for clarification in the ship-breaking/Blue Lady matter regarding 6th September, 2007 and 11th September, 2007 has been received. In the application (that has critiqued the September 2007 order) it has also been submitted that despite the court's order specifically directing vide order dated 15.5.2007 that "Without claiming any equities, the ship breaking unit shall be permitted to remove oil from the ship under the supervision and guidance of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Gujarat Maritime Board", the same has been violated in toto and in complete contempt of Court...

Note: The Blue Lady case again came before the Supreme Court on 23 October, 2007 .Gopal Subramaniam, the Additional Solicitor General mentioned that an application for clarification in the ship-breaking/Blue Lady matter regarding 6th September, 2007 and 11th September, 2007 has been received. In the application (that has critiqued the September 2007 order) it has also been submitted that despite the court's order specifically directing vide order dated 15.5.2007 that "Without claiming any equities, the ship breaking unit shall be permitted to remove oil from the ship under the supervision and guidance of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Gujarat Maritime Board", the same has been violated in toto and in complete contempt of Court's directions. The said waste oil has been sold. A strict view has to be taken of such conduct waste oil being removed from the ship and sold. The court observed that the matter would be taken up on the next date hearing after fo...

Court seeks comprehensive guidelines on waste oil Taking note of the unscrupulous traders in the garb of importing used oil or furnace oil, in fact, import waste oil which is a banned item in India, Supreme Court directed the government today to evolve a guideline to stop the menace of waste oil in the country. The Court has asked Gopal Subramaniam, the Additional Solicitor General to give a comprehensive note on the issue in consultation with Sanjay Parikh, the counsel for the petitioner. It was noted that Prof. MGK Menon Committee recommendations that dealt with the issue of waste oil/used oil and the same were accepted the court by the court. “Pursuant to the directions of this Court .and the affidavits filed on behalf of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India…prima facie it seems that 15 importers, whose names and addresses are given…,(who) illegally imported waste oil in 133 containers in the garb of lubricating oil.” Waste oil is a hazardous waste that is defi...

Note: The Blue Lady (SS Norway) case is coming up for hearing on 23 October,in the Supreme Court. It is noteworthy that Md. Badron Bin Ismail, the Director of the Malaysian "Safety Navigation Division & Peninsular Malaysian Marine Department". She writes that Star Cruises advised the authority that SS Blue Lady (SS Norway) was heading for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be repaired, obviously the truth was the ship had already been sold to the breakers. Malaysia was misled and taken for a ride. It must act now and seek clarification from the ship owners. The news report suggesting that dismantling of Blue Lady has begun is far from the truth. In fact it is an effort by the cash buyers to tell the interested ship owners that things have not come to a standstill at Alang. This is to ensure the flow of obsolete ships at Alang. Did the reporter in question speak to the villagers from the adjoining villagers to verify the version of the ship-breakers? Is the reporter aware t...