Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has said that the government is worried after learning that the Gujarat government has given permission to Platinum II (formerly called SS Independence), a ship from USA carrying radioactive material, to anchor in its ship-breaking yards in Alang.

"We have information that a ship with radioactive waste has reached Alang. Our officers have gone to Alang, and are in touch with state government," he said.

Earlier, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had sought details from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) on the ship that has come for dismantling at Alang, allegedly carrying hazardous toxic substance.

The matter came to light after the convener of Indian Platform on Ship breaking (IPOS) wrote a letter to the Ministry that the ship from the US was carrying hazardous toxic waste including radioactive substances.