Most people know ''Alang'' which is in Bhavnagar District in one of the most upcoming and happening state of Gujarat.
Alang is almost synonymous with Ship-breaking.Almost 50% of the ships in this mortal world comes to its Final Resting Place here where the Ship is stripped down to sheets which then makes its way either to a Steel mill or a Scrap yard.Alang Provides opportunities to almost 40000 unskilled Labourers who THRIVE and INDULGE in hammering out the Vessels which are Past their Prime.The Labour is dirt cheap, just about 1 to 2 dollars per day, quite measely by World Standards which makes Alang very cost effective and competetive.
The Vessels which are dismantled, contain substances like Asbestos and PCBs(Polychlorinated biphenyls) and other Toxic wastes which the Developed Countries get rid off easily by dumping them in the 3rd World Countries.These Hazardous Chemicals over a prolonged contact, often causes Cancer and life threatening diseases.
The Labourers who come into contact with these dangerous chemicals are mostly illiterate and do not realise that the very employment that seems to 'Sustain' them is dragging them to a Slow and Painful death.
Devoid of any expensive lawsuits or healthClaims this Part of the ''ILLITERATE and IMPOVERISHED World lies on a Potential time -bomb of Epidemic Proportions.
One of the International Non Govt Organistion named BAN (Basel Action Network) is of the view that there should be a International legislation on Ship Breaking.The Ships which are inbound should be DETOXIFIED in its country of Origin and only then it should be allowed to be dismantled.However the western World is not to keen to pursue it as it would have to forego millions of dollars for implementing a process which so far is avoidable by ''selling'' off the Muck to the Developing Countries.
Further the Once Pristine beach has been ravaged by the toxics released as a result of this mindless saga.
The marine life too has been damaged and the fish consumed by the humans is often, full of these deadly chemicals which has reduced the life span of the people in and around this region.
Sometimes I wonder whether Alang is a Final Resting Place for the Ships or the Unskilled Labourers who toil relentlessly for the Spoils which is often like a Distant Mirage, Full of Hope and aspirations but ultimately what accompanies them is Pain and misery throughout their Shortened and Chemical filled Life Span.
Alang is almost synonymous with Ship-breaking.Almost 50% of the ships in this mortal world comes to its Final Resting Place here where the Ship is stripped down to sheets which then makes its way either to a Steel mill or a Scrap yard.Alang Provides opportunities to almost 40000 unskilled Labourers who THRIVE and INDULGE in hammering out the Vessels which are Past their Prime.The Labour is dirt cheap, just about 1 to 2 dollars per day, quite measely by World Standards which makes Alang very cost effective and competetive.
The Vessels which are dismantled, contain substances like Asbestos and PCBs(Polychlorinated biphenyls) and other Toxic wastes which the Developed Countries get rid off easily by dumping them in the 3rd World Countries.These Hazardous Chemicals over a prolonged contact, often causes Cancer and life threatening diseases.
The Labourers who come into contact with these dangerous chemicals are mostly illiterate and do not realise that the very employment that seems to 'Sustain' them is dragging them to a Slow and Painful death.
Devoid of any expensive lawsuits or healthClaims this Part of the ''ILLITERATE and IMPOVERISHED World lies on a Potential time -bomb of Epidemic Proportions.
One of the International Non Govt Organistion named BAN (Basel Action Network) is of the view that there should be a International legislation on Ship Breaking.The Ships which are inbound should be DETOXIFIED in its country of Origin and only then it should be allowed to be dismantled.However the western World is not to keen to pursue it as it would have to forego millions of dollars for implementing a process which so far is avoidable by ''selling'' off the Muck to the Developing Countries.
Further the Once Pristine beach has been ravaged by the toxics released as a result of this mindless saga.
The marine life too has been damaged and the fish consumed by the humans is often, full of these deadly chemicals which has reduced the life span of the people in and around this region.
Sometimes I wonder whether Alang is a Final Resting Place for the Ships or the Unskilled Labourers who toil relentlessly for the Spoils which is often like a Distant Mirage, Full of Hope and aspirations but ultimately what accompanies them is Pain and misery throughout their Shortened and Chemical filled Life Span.
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