MUMBAI: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways & AYUSH chaired the meeting of the Consultative Committee for the MoPSW in Mumbai on 21.2.2023. The meeting was attended by Shri Arvind Sawant, MP, Shri Manoj Kotak, MP and Smt. Geetha Vanga, MP.
Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary (Shipping) and senior officials of the MoPSW also attended the meeting along with Heads of MbPA, JNPA, DG Shipping, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, DCI and SCI.
While inaugurating the meeting, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal stated that India intends to increase the share of renewal energy to 60 per cent of total power demand of each of its major ports from the present share of less than 10 per cent. The Maritime Vision Document-2030 released by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, is a 10-year blueprint on India’s vision of a sustainable Maritime Sector and vibrant blue economy and the Ministry has undertaken various green port initiatives in major ports, so that their environmental issues are addressed properly.
Thereafter, Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Addl. Secretary, PSW, made a presentation on General Overview of the MoPSW and also a PPT on “Green Ports and Green Shipping”.
Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary Shipping, stated that the Ports have aimed to reduce carbon emissions, per tonne of cargo handled by 30 per cent by 2030 and initiated various activities that would help in reducing the greenhouse gases emissions from the port and shipping sector in order to achieve the targets set by the Government for making the maritime sector green and sustainable.
Under Sagarmala programme, 160 projects costing Rs.10,901 crore have been identified in 12 States/UTs. These projects are being implemented by concerned Central Ministries, State Governments/Administrations, Ports and other agencies.
To enhance the share of green shipping, various projects are being implemented by Cochin Shipyard Ltd., India’s largest ship building and maintenance facility. These include green urban mobility solutions like hybrid electric ferries, autonomous zero-emission vessels, pilot project on hydrogen fuel cell ferry, electric catamaran water taxi, hybrid electric Ro-Ro, hybrid LNG-electric inland cargo carrier, hybrid tugs, etc. The initiatives include acquisition of equipment for monitoring environmental pollution, dust suppression systems, STP’s garbage disposal system for ports and ships, reception facility for wastes from ships, projects for energy generation for renewable energy sources, Tier I Oil Spill Response and inclusion of sustainable practices in terminal design, development and Operation, increasing green cover within port premises, etc.
Smt. Geetha Vanga, Shri Arvind Sawant and Shri Manoj Kotak raised the concerns of plastic on the environment issues and urged Shipping Ministry to implement robust environmental programmes.
Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister for State for PSW in his address outlined the delegates attending the meeting on Ministry’s road map for achieving the targets. Chairman, MbPA and Chairman, JNPA clarified some of the doubts raised by hon’ble members.
Concluding the meeting, the Hon’ble Minister stated that India would be able to complete the projects by 2035 and India will be the base for providing for such facilities in the Maritime Sector and would be inclusive of the suggestions given by the Hon’ble Members during the meeting.
