Harit Sagar : The Green Port Guidelines
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways recently launched ‘Harit Sagar’, the Green Port Guidelines.
- Harit Sagar Guidelines is to minimize waste through Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle to attain zero waste discharge from port operations and promote monitoring based on Environmental Performance Indicators.
- These guidelines have been formulated with the aim of promoting environmentally friendly practices across all Indian Ports.
- It envisages ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation and maintenance while aligning with the working with Nature concept and minimizing the impact on biotic components of the harbour ecosystem.
- It lays emphasis on the use of Clean / Green energy in Port operation, developing Port capabilities for storage, handling and bunkering Greener Fuels, viz., Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Green Methanol / Ethanol etc.
- This also covers aspects of the National Green Hydrogen Mission pertaining to ports, development of green hydrogen facilities, LNG bunkering, Offshore Wind Energy and provides provision for adopting global Green Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
- These Guidelines provide a framework for the Major Ports to draw out a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in terms of quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines through focused implementation and close monitoring of Green Initiatives and to achieve Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG).
