"From the information given to us we do not think it is not encouraging to allow the ship to enter India as it will violate the Basel Convention," said G. Thyagrajan, chairman of the Supreme Court Commission on Hazardous Wastes.

The treaty bars transfer of dangerous materials from one country to another.

"At this point, the ship should not be allowed to enter (Indian waters) until a final view is taken," he said, adding a decision "on the ship's future will be taken in the next two weeks."

International environmental group Greenpeace has branded France's move to send the vessel to the world's largest ship-breaking yard in Alang in the western state of Gujarat "a symbol of the developed world's arrogant assumption that India can be a recipient for their refuse."

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