The progress is in the right direction

Government need to make sure that steps are taken in the right direction to reduce the carbon emissions and introduce incentives for the ports as well as shipping companies so that they are encouraged to work towards a cleaner environment, says Vishal Kalantri, Director, Dighi Port, in an interview with Sumantra Das.

The idea of green port is there for quite some time in India but how do you see the implementation part? Where are we lacking?
The idea has been there for some time now and the implementation has been slow. However, progress is being in the right direction given the fact that carbon footprint and green issues are very dominant at present all over the world.

Initiatives being planned and taken by some of the ports on the on-shore side involve setting up of wind and solar power units, usage of CNG vehicles in the port area, investing in environmentally friendly cargo handling equipment (hybrid), water harvesting and forestation, and a few more. Most ports are appointing consultants to study ways and means these initiatives can be implemented at the earliest.

Emphasis needs to be given to offshore aspects of pollution such as banning of entry of older vessels into ports as they are considered to be heavy polluters, marine pollution, ballast water, oil spill etc, need to be considered along with the on-shore issues. The task at hand of making ports greener is a complex one to say the least as ports and shipping are part of international business for the country. Making them green will achieve very little as they form only a small fraction of the entire value chain of exim cargo traffic. Initiatives will need to be taken simultaneously to reduce the pollution being caused by movement of cargo from ports by road and vice versa.

Will promotion of coastal shipping help to implement green port concept?
There is ample scope for encouraging movement of cargo through coastal shipping in India. Encouraging coastal shipping will reduce the burden of movement of cargo via road and rail.

Ports have a major role to play in servicing the maritime sector with coastal shipping by far being the most environmentally friendly of the major transport modes followed by movement of cargo by railway. The carbon emission by railway cargo transportation is about one-third of that by truck transportation. Modal shift from trucks to coastal shipping and railway cargo transportation surely the best possible way to reduce total carbon emissions from domestic logistics services. A possible way to promote modal shift is for the government to provide incentives such as subsidies, tax reliefs and so on to ports, cargo owners.

Is port budget a major concern for Green Port concept?
Port development is a highly capital intensive process. Further, cost of investing in environmentally friendly equipment and units at this point of time is extremely high as well.

Innovation in technology has progressed a lot and today we have ports that can invest in energy-conservating cargo-handling machines that are applying hybrid technology to cargo handling equipment. Setting up of wind and solar power units at the port also involves a large amount of investment, which at times is not possible due to the high amount of investment already being made by the ports for developing the required infrastructure.

In view of the above, investing in technology that can help or encourage the concept of having greener ports is not able to gain the momentum that it deserves as the cost involved in the same is relatively high.

What are the policy initiatives that are required to implement the concept?
Policy initiatives for the development of Green ports are to be taken by the governing authority of the coastline. The law makers or the facilitators of the coastline have to be on the forefront taking the lead for promoting the development of Green ports.

Gujarat Maritime Board has listed out the planning process for development of Green ports.

Apart from that, to encourage broad use of this environmental-friendly technology, the government can adopt an incentive scheme to promote installation and/or focus on research and development of low-cost technology. Also as mentioned earlier, the government has to look to provide incentives to ports and cargo owners in the form of subsidies, relief in taxes and so on.

Should the government take proactive approach with local authorities to implement the concept of Green port?
Yes, the government has to be more proactive in the implementation of Green port. They need to make sure that steps are taken in the right direction to reduce the carbon emissions and need to introduce incentives for the ports as well as shipping companies so that they are encouraged to work towards a cleaner environment.

How do you see private ports’ approach on Green Port? Are they better than state run ports in approach?
The focus on development of green ports has been increasing day by day which essentially centralises on the port operations being carried out in manner that are environmentally friendly along with working on the principles of sustainable development. Efficient environmental management by ports can reduce negative impact on the ecosystem along with supporting economic and integrated development along coasts. Green ports are ports that are maintained and operated in a sustainable way and they aim at conserving as well as enhancing the quality of the surrounding environment.

All ports whether private or state run understand the importance of Green port and are working towards achieving it. The government as well as some of the state run maritime boards such as GMB have realised the benefits of fuel substitution, emission reduction and improved management of logistics to optimise energy efficiency.

The importance of undertaking serious measures for ‘greening’ the present ports and development of new ports on the same concept has been increasing. As global trade shall grow, the demand for ports and shipping sector will grow and it will become even more important for ports to develop and maintain the environment.

What are the policy initiatives that are required to implement the concept?
Policy initiatives for the development of Green ports are to be taken by the governing authority of the coastline. The law makers or the facilitators of the coastline have to be on the forefront taking the lead for promoting the development of Green ports. Gujarat Maritime Board has listed out the planning process for development of Green ports.

Apart from that, to encourage broad use of this environmental-friendly technology, the government can adopt an incentive scheme to promote installation and/or focus on research and development of low-cost technology. Also as mentioned earlier, the government has to look to provide incentives to ports and cargo owners in the form of subsidies, relief in taxes and so on.

Should the government take proactive approach with local authorities to implement the concept of Green port?
Yes, the government has to be more proactive in the implementation of Green port. They need to make sure that steps are taken in the right direction to reduce the carbon emissions and need to introduce incentives for the ports as well as shipping companies so that they are encouraged to work towards a cleaner environment.

How do you see private ports’ approach on Green Port? Are they better than state run ports in approach?
The focus on development of green ports has been increasing day by day which essentially centralises on the port operations being carried out in manner that are environmentally friendly along with working on the principles of sustainable development. Efficient environmental management by ports can reduce negative impact on the ecosystem along with supporting economic and integrated development along coasts. Green ports are maintained and operated in a sustainable way and they aim at conserving as well as enhancing the quality of the surroundings.

All ports whether private or state run understand the importance of Green port and are working towards achieving it. The government as well as some of the state run maritime boards have realised the benefits of fuel substitution, emission reduction and improved management of logistics to optimise energy efficiency. The importance of undertaking serious measures for ‘greening’ the present ports and development of new ports on the same concept has been increasing. As global trade shall grow, the demand for ports and shipping sector will grow and it will become even more important for ports to develop and maintain the environment.