The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAY 10, 2023
Union Ports, Shipping & Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday launched Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines, initiated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways to meet the larger vision of achieving Zero Carbon Emission Goal
Harit Sagar Guidelines – 2023 envisages ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation and maintenance while aligning with ’Working with Nature’ concept and minimizing impact on biotic components of harbor ecosystem. It lays emphasis on use of Clean / Green energy in Port operation, developing Port capabilities for storage, handling and bunkering Greener Fuels viz. Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Green Methanol / Ethanol etc.
These Guidelines provide a framework for the Major Ports for drawing out a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in terms of quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines, through focused implementation and close monitoring of Green Initiatives and to achieve Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG).
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Sonowal said, ‘Ports are undertaking green initiatives and actively contributing to the fulfillment of the “Panchamrit” commitments announced by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The “Harit Sagar” Guidelines -2023 provide a comprehensive framework for our Major Ports, empowering them to create a comprehensive action plan aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in carbon emissions over defined timelines.”
The objective of guidelines is to minimize waste through Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle to attain zero waste discharge from port operations and promote monitoring, based on Environmental Performance Indicators. This also covers aspects of National Green Hydrogen Mission pertaining to ports, development of green hydrogen facility, LNG bunkering, Offshore Wind Energy etc and provides provision for adopting global Green Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard.
“The launch of the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines is a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals. These guidelines have been formulated with the aim of promoting environmental friendly practices across all our Ports, said Shripad Naik, MoS for Ports, Shipping & Waterways during the event.
Ports, Shipping & Waterways Ministry Secretary Sudhansh Pant said, “Our four major ports Deendayal Port, Visakhapatnam Port, New Mangalore Port and VOC Port are already generating renewable energy more than their demand. From now onwards our ports will be able to evaluate themselves on the environmental indicators to know their capability in the environmental aspects.”
