NEW DELHI: Environmental groups have drawn Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attention to the Government's "failure" to respond to the Danish Government's request for return of the fugitive toxic ship "Kong Frederik IX" alias Frederik, now re-named "Riky."

Basel Action Network, Greenpeace, Ban Asbestos Network, Centre of Indian Trade Unions and Corporate Accountability Desk said that stringent action should be taken against the officials concerned in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Gujarat Maritime Board, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Indian Customs for allowing the ship to enter the Indian waters.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for India to demonstrate that it is not a dumping ground for toxic wastes from other countries. If the Government fails to act it will be a tragedy for the environment and workers' safety," Jacob Hartmann of Greenpeace in Denmark said in a statement.

"Unless contempt of court proceedings are initiated against those responsible, nothing will change and India will become the toxic dumping ground of the world irrespective of the Supreme Court's intent."

CITU leader P.K. Ganguly echoed the demands of the environment and labour groups.

The toxic ship-for-scrap escaped Denmark's clutches and headed for Alang yard in Gujarat, contravening Danish, European Union and Indian laws. Denmark had assured India that it would take action against the ship-owner and ensure that the ship was stripped of toxic substances if the Indian Government seized the ship and sent it back.

The ship was, however, allowed to beach despite notification of the illegality to all concerned authorities, including the Environment Ministry, Gujarat Maritime Board, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Bhavnagar Customs, indicating the complicity of these agencies in violating the Supreme Court directives.

Ironically, in November 2003, the Gujarat Maritime Board and Coast Guard showed remarkable alacrity in harassing Greenpeace's flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, outside Alang and prevented its entry into the Alang waters.

"Despite advance notification of a fugitive ship's illegal entry into India by another Government, the Indian authorities chose to allow "Fredrik". Nothing more needs to be said about the Indian Environment Ministry's seriousness about protecting India from becoming the West's dumping ground," said Shailendra Yashwant of Greenpeace.

The environmental-labour coalition has been asking the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee to initiate contempt proceedings against the Ministry of Environment, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the Gujarat Maritime Board and Bhavnagar Customs. It also demanded that the ship be towed back to Denmark and criminal proceedings initiated under the Hazardous Waste Rules, 1989 against the ship-breaker.

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