Rama Krishna Sangem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 23, shared an article by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal explaining how growing and resilient industrial base with ‘Make in India’ impetus and efforts to modernise, mechanise and digitise ports along the busy east-west trade route which have provided the country with a unique advantage.
Responding to a post by Union Minister Sonowal on X, Shri Modi said:
“In this must-read article, Union Minister Shri @sarbanandsonwal explains how growing and resilient industrial base with ‘Make in India’ impetus and efforts to modernise, mechanise and digitise ports along the busy east-west trade route have provided the country with a unique advantage.
He highlights that the government’s $8 billion package to rejuvenate India’s shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem is not a routine budget line, but a signal of ambition.”
What Sonowal said in his write up
In an standalone article by Sarbananda Sonowal on green shipping was not found, recent news and press releases detail his extensive public statements and policy pushes on the topic. As Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sonowal has championed India’s transition to sustainable maritime practices through several initiatives.
Key green shipping initiatives: Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP): This flagship program, launched in 2023, aims to convert all harbor tugs at India’s major ports to “green tugs” powered by cleaner, non-fossil fuels by 2047. It will begin with hybrid-powered systems.
National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS): Inaugurated by Sonowal, this center serves as a research hub for green solutions. It provides policy frameworks and technology recommendations to help the maritime sector meet carbon neutrality goals.
“Harit Sagar” Green Port Guidelines: These guidelines provide a framework for India’s major ports to create environmentally friendly ecosystems. Measures include increasing renewable energy use to 60% of total demand, reducing carbon emissions per ton of cargo handled by 30% by 2030, and promoting alternative fuels.
Green hydrogen hubs: India is establishing green hydrogen hubs at major ports like Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradip to support the transition to alternative fuels for shipping. Global collaboration: Under Sonowal’s leadership, India is actively engaged with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other nations on sustainability initiatives, including the IMO Green Voyage 2050 project.
