To give impetus to the development of green ports and green shipping in India as envisaged in the Maritime India Vision 2030, Union Minister, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Saturday chaired a meeting with all major ports, CSL and IWAI to review the progress in this regard.
Chairman of each major port showcased the activities undertaken on Green Port initiatives and the further action plans in the port. Attending the meeting, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust, PL Haranadh affirmed that the port in line with the Ministry’s vision is committed to reduce its carbon footprint.
On increasing the usage of renewable energy, Haranadh stated that some rooftop 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 and 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, said 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 and 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, he apprised.
As part of Corporate Environment Responsibility, Haranadh said that the 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, the 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 cubic meter of dredged material for land reclamation of its upcoming crude oil tank terminal at Paradip. Further, Haranadh said a rainwater harvesting project will be undertaken by 2025.
Since the onslaught of 1999 Super Cyclone at Paradip, the port has carried out around 7 lakh tree plantation in the city. As part of Greenification of Paradip Port, Haranadh said 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.
Haranadh along with Deputy Chairman AK Bose outlined the roadmap as to how PPT can be the world leader in safe, sustainable and green maritime sector.
