ALANG (India), Feb 8: France will take back asbestos from a decommissioned warship heading for an Indian shipbreaking yard if New Delhi asks, France’s ambassador said on Wednesday.

“Our commitment is total and we’re prepared to take back the asbestos which will be removed from the ship ... if Indian authorities so desire,” Dominique Girard told reporters after touring the Alang yard in Gujarat state.

“We will abide by the decision of the Indian government and the Indian courts. It’s out of the question to force our way into India.”

The immediate fate of the vessel Clemenceau depends on a decision on Feb 13 by India’s supreme court on whether to allow it into Indian waters.

Environmental groups say the warship, to be salvaged for steel, is full of asbestos and other toxic chemicals and poses a danger to Alang’s workers.

France says the vessel carries 45 tons of cancer-causing asbestos insulation but the firm, which partially decontaminated it before the trip, says the amount is between 500 and 1,000 tons.

Mr Girard said there was no ‘plan B’ if the Indian authorities did not allow the Clemenceau to head to India.

He said France was sending its own experts to India and would closely monitor the health of 45 Alang workers expected to dismantle the 27,000-ton vessel.

“The people (in charge) have a very clear vision of how they will be doing things,” he added.

“On the specific question of workers’ health, they have good records ... and they will be even stronger now with French partners. It will be followed up in watching the health of individual workers.”

Greenpeace spokesman Ramapati Kumar dismissed Mr Girard’s assurances.

“Our reaction is very simple — the whole transaction of the Clemenceau is illegal and immoral. We doubt the ability (technical expertise) of the shipbreaking yards of Alang will improve overnight.”

An 11-member court-appointed Indian environmental watchdog body was split over whether to allow the warship to be dismantled in India and has submitted two reports to the supreme court, members said.

“Seven said ‘Yes’, three said ‘No’ and one was absent and hence two reports reflecting both views went to the supreme court,” scientist Claude Alvares, a group member, said.

The commission had complained it was still awaiting information from Paris on the amount of asbestos aboard the warship.

Mr Girard said documents should be with Indian officials by Thursday.

“We didn’t want to give them fake documents,” he said. “We have the maps but not the quantities. We will be trying to get as close as possible.” Staff at the yard said India’s shipbreaking industry was equipped to handle hazardous material.

“We have to do regular checks of our staff every six months and we have found no lung or any other health problem for 10 or 15 years,” said Girish Luthra, chairman of the company responsible for the clean-up.—AFP