Lok Sabha Question No. 824 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Regulation of Port Pollution
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 824

ANSWERED ON 29.11.2024

## REGULATION OF PORT POLLUTION

824.   SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  recent  survey/study  into  the issue of pollution at ports across the country; (b) if so, the details regarding the total amount of pollutants released into seas at ports over the last five years across the country, Port-wise and  State-wise particularly in Andhra Pradesh; (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to reduce pollution at ports and the total fund(s) allocated and utilised therefor over the last five years in the country, State-wise particularly Andhra Pradesh; (d) whether the Government has introduced any incentives for ports to reduce the pollution caused by them, if so, the details thereof and the steps undertaken by the ports thereon at present; and (e)

- whether the Government has undertaken any campaigns to raise awareness regarding  port  pollution  and  the  steps  taken  to  tackle  it,  if  so,  the  details  thereof especially in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)&(b) Central Pollution Control Board / State Pollution Control Board periodically monitors the air and water quality at the Ports and also conducts regular environmental audit of Ports. All the ports adhere to the  MARPOL convention and hence, strictly comply to all the environmental related guidelines.

(c)&(d) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued 'HaritSagar', the Green Port Guidelines to reduce carbon intensity and to develop an environment  friendly ecosystem  at  Major  Ports  for which  no  specific  budget allocation  has  been  made.  The  following  incentives  are  proposed  under  these guidelines:-

-  Ships  using  cleaner  fuels  or  equipped  with  shore  power  reception facilities will be prioritized in berthing or receive rebates in berth dues to promote sustainability at ports.
-  Private  Craft  Operators  at  ports  using  alternative  fuels  (green  fuels) such as Methanol, Ethanol, Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology, etc., will be suitably incentivized.
-  Private  port  operators,  stevedores,  agents,  exporters,  and  importers who  use  green  fuel  or  electric  vehicles  for  their  entire  fleet  may receive green certification and be incentivized.
-  All  truck  operators  who  use  the  green  fuel  i.e.  CNG/LNG/Hydrogen and its derivative or electric fleet may be identified and incentivized.
-  Existing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concessionaires at ports will be incentivized to adopt eco-friendly and carbon-neutral designs and practices.

Further, Major Ports, including Visakhapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh have taken a number of steps to reduce pollution at ports, such as:-

-  Compliance with the Directorate General of Shipping Guidelines in the SwachhSagar Portal for all vessels visiting at the ports.
-  Carbon Reduction through solar power generated by ports.
-  Setting up of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
-  Covered  cargo  stacks  for  bulk  cargo  like  Iron  ore,  coal  etc.  for controlling dust particles.
-  Mist  cannons  and  hydrated  sprinklers  to  prevent  the  dispersal  of mineral dust.
-  Mechanization  of  existing  berths  resulting  in  cargo  transport  through conveyers
-  Green Belts developed in ports
-  Mechanized  sweeping  machines  to  collect  the  spillage  of  cargo  on roads in operational areas.

(e) Regular awareness campaigns on environmental protection, climate change, water  conservation,  energy  conservation,  ecosystem  conservation,  ban  on  singleuse plastic, World Environment Day celebration, etc. are conducted from time to time at the ports.

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