Indian ports to clean up act

The Indian Ministry of Shipping has began a project to make the country’s major ports “cleaner and greener”. Project Green Ports will comprise two elements: the Green Ports Initiatives and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

Green Ports Initiatives will include twelve schemes to reduce the environmental impact of Indian ports, including the acquisition of environmental monitoring and dust suppression equipment, setting up sewage, waste water treatment and garbage disposal plants, and the development of renewable energy projects.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – or Clean India Mission – is a national campaign by the Indian government to keep the country’s infrastructure clean. Launched in 2012 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Shipping now aims to apply it to the country’s major ports, identifying twenty activities to promote cleanliness at port premises.

These include cleaning the wharf, cleaning and repairing buildings, port roads and drainage systems, painting road signs, road crossings and pavement edges, modernising toilet complexes, and planting trees. The ministry will also provide staff training in the issues of environmental and cleanliness awareness.

”All major ports have initiated actions and are making good progress,” the ministry said in a recent press release.

India designates thirteen ports as major ports. Between them, they are responsible for handling about three quarters of India’s seaborne cargo traffic. The Indian Ports Associations recently released figures showing a 3.32% increase in throughput at these ports between April and November 2015.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/22012016/indian-ports-to-clean-up-act-2016-95/