GMB approves extra land for private hospital in Alang

Aims to provide better health care facilities to the workers and their families

The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has approved extra land for private hospital in world's largest ship breaking yard Alang, with an aim to provide better health care facilities to the workers and their families.

The board is also mulling to build a trust-run hospital and housing facility for workers employed in the yard, said Pankaj Kumar, VC & CEO, GMB on Tuesday, while dedicating 108 ambulance service at the Alang-Sosiya Shipbreaking Yard in Bhavnagar district. "Approval has been given for provision of extra space for a private hospital at Alang. A trust hospital at Alang and housing facility for the workers is also being looked into," Kumar said. He further added that Alang aims to retaining its top position of the largest ship recycling yard in the world and it could also become a tourism centre of Gujarat.

GMB has taken adequate steps to provide safety for all workers. Healthcare facilities are being provided by Indian Red Cross Society for which financial assistance is provided by GMB to the tune of Rs 12 lacs every year. Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yard is one of the largest ship recycling yards in the world with 130 operational plots employing over 40,000 workers. Till date, nearly 6000 vessels have been beached at Alang and over 43 million LDT (light displacement tonnage) has been recycled there.

The yard provides employment to various categories of labourers in specialised and specific jobs such as crane operators, gas cutters, welders, oil removers, hauling and breaking and metal movers.

108 ambulance service dedicated at Alang yard

GMB, with support of Health Department of Government of Gujarat has dedicated the 108 ambulance service as a special care facility for the workers and their families at Alang Shipbreaking Yard in association with GVK EMRI on Tuesday. Entire capital and operating expenditure would be borne by GMB. An ambulance station and parking area, along with residential accommodation for staff of the ambulance is also being provided by GMB.