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The new norms issued by the Ministry for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways under the newly launched ‘Harit Sagar’ Green Port guidelines, instruct the major ports of India to have clean fuel storage and ship refueling facilities. Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines at a function in New Delhi today.
Launched by Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Wednesday, the guidelines are aimed at meeting the larger vision of achieving the Zero Carbon Emission Goal set by the Ministry over a defined timeline.
The guidelines touch upon all areas of the ports ecosystem that contribute to the carbon intensity of our ports. Sonowal says, “By implementing focused and monitored green initiatives, we can make substantial progress in our decarbonization efforts.”
Harit Sagar Guidelines – 2023 envisages ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation, and maintenance while aligning with the working with Nature’s concept and minimizing the impact on biotic components of the harbor ecosystem. It emphasizes the use of clean or green energy in Port operation, developing Port capabilities for storage, handling, and bunkering greener fuels like Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, and Green Methanol or Ethanol.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr Sonowal said, ports are undertaking green initiatives and actively contributing to the fulfillment of the “Panchamrit” commitments announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Adding Mr Sonowal says, that Harit Sagar Guidelines -2023 provide a comprehensive framework for Major Ports in the country, empowering them to create a comprehensive action plan aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in carbon emissions over defined timelines. On this occasion, the Minister also conferred ‘The Sagar Shreshtha Samman’ awards upon major ports for their exceptional achievements in various operational parameters during FY-2022-23.
Ranking of the major ports was done based on their overall performance during 2022-23, and the ports having registered the highest incremental improvements were also honored.
The best incremental performance for attaining the highest cargo growth rate of 16.56% last year was awarded to Paradip Port along with the performance shield for Ship Berth Day Output. The award for the best Absolute Performance for the year 2022-23 was conferred on Deendayal Port, Kandla, for handling the highest cargo of 137.56 MMT. Other ports, such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Paradip Port, Kamarajar Port, and Cochin Port, were also recognized for their exceptional achievements.
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Shripad Y. Naik was present during the event
