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The Government has decided to restrict the entry of ships over 25 years old into Indian ports or territorial waters. “Most of the ships involved in accidents, such as the MSC Chitra and M.V. Khalijia are very old. Therefore, the Government has decided to issue a notification under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, that such ships will be allowed only if they satisfy conditions such as having adequate insurance to cover liabilities including collision, wreck removal and salvage,” said the Union Minister for Shipping, Mr G.K. Vasan, in Parliament. Such ships should be classed with Classification Societies which are full members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), and should appoint an Indian Ship Agent to represent the owner/charterer.
Also, the Indian agent should notify the Port authority and the Customs Collector at least 48 hours prior to the arrival of the ship about the details of the ship including insurance. Mr Vasan said that 93 Indian flag ships are over 25 years old. However, they will not be affected as they are all classed with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), which is a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies.
Garbage management in Railways
Indian Railways has not assessed the quantity of waste and garbage generated in trains, and on railway tracks in and around railway stations, the Minister of State for Railways Mr K. H. Muniyappa stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha recently. But arrangements are in place to regularly clear garbage from different areas — station premises, trains and tracks, as required. Initiatives taken to improve garbage management include progressive adoption of mechanised cleaning of coaches/trains and coaching depot premises, mechanised en-route cleaning of nominated trains at certain designated “Clean Train Stations”, on-board housekeeping services during running of select trains, and mechanised high pressure jet cleaning of platforms and track drains in station area.
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