Bangladesh's supreme court on Sunday overturned a lower court's ruling that allowed a ship scrapping operation until October. The court will review the case on Thursday.
Last week the high court allowed conditional importation of toxic ships and their dismantling. It extended the time on grounds that importers and ship dismantlers must ensure the safety and environmental protection of the public and workers.
The Bangladeshi Environmental Lawyers Association had appealed a previous ruling on the extension with the supreme court.
Attorneys of the Bangladeshi Shipbreakers Association, which is engaged in a $1.5 billion ship recycling trade, are scheduled to be at the hearing to ensure the original decision is upheld.
On March 7, the high court permitted import of hazardous ships and their scrapping for two months on several conditions, saying that no ships can be scrapped without cleaning toxic gas, and asbestos and toxic materials must be removed by experts before the ships are dismantled.
The Supreme Court has recalled the file from the High Court for review on July 28," Captain Salah Uddin, an adviser of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association, told Reuters on Tuesday.
"The government hopes the decision of the High Court will be upheld by the Supreme Court."
Rights activists have urged the court to reinstate a year-long ban on the industry, saying its activities remained too dangerous for workers and too costly for the environment. The ban was lifted in March.
The High Court lifted the ban after industry vowed to adopt strict rules to protect workers, such as an age limit of at least 18, training and proper safety gear, and cleansing of toxic material from ships prior to arrival.
Bangladesh, the top ship recycling nation from 2004 through 2008, hopes to bring in around 300 ships by the end of next year, up from 220 in 2009 before the ban, traders said.
Scrapped ships are the main source of steel for the impoverished nation, which requires around 4 million tonnes each year.
No comments:
Post a Comment