Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal called upon port authorities to undertake optimum utilization of available land at major ports and prepare a futuristic development plan which will address forthcoming investment needs of shipping industry.
“As we aim for setting-up of world-class infrastructure facilities at ports, the performance of our ports are improving. This will go a long way in preparing the roadmap for smooth and swift implementation of our plan to develop and modernize our ports and implement the port-led development vision of our prime minister,” said Sonowal in a meeting with senior officials from the ministry and port authorities on Thursday.
The shipping minister also outlined that the ministry should achieve the capital expenditure targets so as to meet the overall expenditure targets of the government.
During the meeting, officials deliberated on the measures taken for promoting green initiatives in the maritime sector and reducing the carbon footprint from port operations.
The ministry has been working on undertaking green ports initiatives as part of India’s commitment to the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
According to India’s updated ‘Nationally Determined Contribution’ communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the country has committed to reduce emissions intensity of its gross domestic product by 45% by 2030, from 2005 level and achieve about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. The various green port initiatives taken by the ministry and state-controlled ports include setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources, providing shore power to ships at berths, creating oil spill response capabilities at all ports, inclusion of sustainable practices in terminal design, development and operation, increasing green cover within port premises, among others.
