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Supreme Court restrains dismantling <i>Blue Lady</i>

The Supreme Court has restrained the dismantling of the Norwegian ship, Blue Lady. The ship containing 1,250 tonnes of asbestos docked in July this year at Alang port, Gujarat.

The court has also directed the Union ministry of environment and forests to find out if the authorities violated the law while allowing the beaching of Blue Lady. Workers' safety at Alang has also attracted the apex court's attention: it has asked the government what safety measures it proposed to take to protect those who would dismantle the asbestos-laden vessel.

These directions were issued in response to a petition by environmental activist Gopal Krishna. The court has adjourned any other action on the matter till May 2007.