Union Minister of MoPSW reviewed the green initiatives of all Major Ports, CSL & IWAI
By Sudhir Ranjan Dash
Paradip, Jan.29: To give impetus to the development of Green Ports & Green Shipping in India as envisaged in the Maritime India Vision 2030, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, chaired a meeting with all Major Ports, CSL & IWAI to review the progress in this regard on Saturday . He said that the MoPSW is leaving no stone unturned to realize Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and become the global driver of Green Shipping. Team MoPSW is determined to steer India’s prosperity via waterways. Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW also addressed on the occasion. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT and Shri. A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman attended the meeting virtually.
The Union Government has undertaken green port initiatives in the major ports so that their environmental performance can be improved. The green port initiatives include acquisition of equipments for monitoring environmental pollution, acquisition of dust suppression systems, setting up of sewage/ waste water treatment plants, setting up of garbage disposal system for ports and ships, developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships, setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources, providing shore power to ships at berths, creating Oil Spill Response (Tier-1) capabilities at all ports, taking actions to improve harbour water quality, inclusion of sustainable practises in terminal design, development and operation, increasing green cover within port premises etc.
During Maritime India Summit 2021 held by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) last year in the month of March, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the ambitious Maritime India Vision 2030 document. The document lays the roadmap of the Indian maritime industry for the decade ahead. Sustainable eco-friendly growth has been the forefront motto of this vision document. All ports have been mandated to increase usage of renewable energy to more than 60% of the total energy consumption at ports by 2030 with primary focus on solar and wind. The target is ambitious-but-vital, to reduce the harmful environmental impact on account of coal consumption to drive the impending economic growth of the country. Along with it framework have been laid upon to reduce pollution, implement waste management and recycling of dredge material at ports.
Nearing a year in completion to this vision roadmap, the MoPSW under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, organised the annual review meeting on 29th January 2022. In this meeting, each Major Port Chairman showcased their activities undertaken on Green Port Initiatives and their further action plans. Chairman Paradip Port Trust, Shri P L Haranadh, affirmed that the Port is in line to the Ministry’s vision and is committed to reduce its carbon footprint. With this he presented Paradip Port’s status on green initiatives and future action plans.
On increasing the usage of renewable energy, Shri Haranadh states that some roof top solar plants on RESCO model have been installed in Paradip and discussion is going on with the Odisha State Government for providing around 50 acres of land to set up a 10 MW solar plant. To drive adoption of multi-clean fuels, Paradip Port is in talks with oil companies like IOCL, BPCL & GAIL to prepare a framework for setting up LNG depot at the port and conversion of dumpers lying inside port to LNG engine. Around 30 km of rail line electrification has been completed at Paradip Port and by 2024 the Port aims at electrifying its entire rail network. Similarly, diesel locomotives will be phased out in years to come, says Shri Haranadh.
Several dust management systems have already been carried out at PPT that includes net barriers around port premises, covered conveyor belts and pipelines from nearby industries, water sprinklers and dry fog dust suppression system at berths, siding plots & MCHP. Use of mist cannons, road sweeping machines and truck tyre washing systems are few activities that have been carried out to mitigate dust on roads. As part of Corporate Environment Responsibility, Shri Haranadh said that Paradip Port will work for betterment of air quality by setting up ambient air quality monitoring stations at key locations. Further he emphasised that mechanisation is the key to reduce pollution in a dry bulk port like Paradip and nearly 80% of the present berths are mechanised whereas rest berths will be gone for mechanisation by 2025.
Under waste management, Paradip Port has already installed three Sewage Treatment Plants of total 6.5 MLD capacity, water from which is being used in mist cannons, water sprinkling systems and gardening. Around 50 acres of land have been provided to Paradip Municipality for solid waste management. Paradip Port has undertaken an agreement with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) for using about 2.3 million cubim meter of dredged material for land reclamation of its upcoming crude oil tank terminal at Paradip. Further, Shri Haranadh said that a rain water harvesting project will be undertaken by 2025.
Since the onslaught of 1999 super-cyclone at Paradip, the Port has carried out around 7 lakhs tree plantation in the city. As part of Greenificaiton of Paradip Port, Shri Haranadh says that an ambitious target of 1 million tree coverage by 2025 has been set. In this cargo handling areas will also be targeted by employing horticulture experts.
With this Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT along with Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman outlined the roadmap, how PPT can be the world leader in Safe, Sustainable & Green Maritime Sector.
