Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines to promote environmental sustainability across Major Ports. These guidelines, answered in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3242 on August 8, 2025, outline specific measures for ports to reduce pollution and adopt green practices. Compliance is ensured through action plans, monitoring systems, and environmental audits.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Environmental Sustainability Measures:**
* Increase green cover and promote coastal shipping.
* Electrify port equipment and vehicles.
* Adopt renewable energy sources.
* Provide shore-to-ship power supply.
* Improve waste and effluent management.
* Protect marine ecosystems.
* Use energy-efficient infrastructure.
* Establish green hydrogen infrastructure and rainwater harvesting.
* Incentivize green shipping practices.
* **Expected Environmental Impact:**
* Reduce carbon emissions.
* Enhance energy and water efficiency.
* Improve air and water quality.
* Minimize pollution from vessels at berth through shore-to-ship power and green refueling infrastructure.
* Improve ecosystem vitality and pollution control via green belts and energy-efficient technologies.
* **Compliance and Monitoring:**
* Major Ports must prepare action plans with timelines for implementing Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs).
* Install real-time monitoring systems for air, water, noise, and effluents.
* Conduct independent annual environmental audits.
* **Stakeholder Collaboration and Incentives:**
* Active collaboration with terminal operators, shipping lines, logistics providers, government agencies, and private entities is emphasized.
* Incentives like priority berthing and fee rebates are encouraged for vessels using cleaner fuels or electric equipment.
* The Ministry offers financial incentives such as VRC rebates for promoting Coastal Shipping and vessels using cleaner fuels, along with shipbuilding financial assistance for hybrid and Green vessel construction.
Impact Analysis:
* **Major Ports:**
* Impact: Required to implement green initiatives and comply with the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines to improve environmental performance.
* Action Required: Prepare action plans with timelines for implementing Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs), install real-time monitoring systems, and conduct annual environmental audits.
* **Shipping Lines and Vessels:**
* Impact: Encouraged to adopt cleaner fuels and electric equipment through incentives like priority berthing and fee rebates.
* Action Required: Consider transitioning to cleaner fuels and electric equipment to benefit from available incentives.
* **Terminal Operators and Logistics Providers:**
* Impact: Expected to collaborate in implementing green practices and supporting sustainable port operations.
* Action Required: Participate in collaborative efforts and support the implementation of green practices at ports.
* **Government Agencies and Private Entities:**
* Impact: Expected to support and contribute to the achievement of environmental sustainability goals at ports.
* Action Required: Collaborate with the Ministry and other stakeholders to promote green practices and sustainable port operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The Indian government ministry responsible for ports, shipping, and waterways.
Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines: Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote environmental sustainability across Major Ports.
SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL: The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Major Ports: Ports in India that are under the direct control of the Central Government as defined by the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
Environmental Performance Indicators EPIs: A set of metrics used to track and assess the environmental impact and sustainability of port operations, including air, water, noise, and effluents monitoring.
Coastal Shipping: The transportation of goods and passengers along the coastline, promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional transportation methods.
green hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.
VRC rebates: Financial incentives in the form of Vessel Related Charges rebates given for promoting Coastal Shipping and for vessels using cleaner fuels
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3242
ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
“HARIT SAGAR” GREEN PORT GUIDELINES
3242. SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) the specific measures that are included in the “HaritSagar” Green Port Guidelines;
(b) the manner in which the implementation of these guidelines is expected to impact
environmental sustainability and pollution control in port operations;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure compliance with the “HaritSagar”
guidelines among various ports across the country;
(d) the manner in which the Government plans to monitor and evaluate the
effectiveness of these guidelines in achieving their pollution reduction goals; and
(e) the collaborative efforts being made with stakeholders in the shipping and maritime
industry to promote green practices at ports?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) The “HaritSagar” Green Port Guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping
and Waterwaysoutline specific measures to promote environmental sustainability across
Major Ports. These include increasing green cover, electrification of port equipment and
vehicles, adoption of renewable energy, provision of shore-to-ship power supply,
promotion of coastal shipping, improved waste and effluent management, marine
ecosystem protection, and use of energy-efficient infrastructure. The guidelines also call
for green hydrogen infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, and incentives for green shipping
practices.(b) Implementation of these guidelines is expected to significantly reduce carbon
emissions, enhance energy and water efficiency, and improve air and water quality at
ports. Shore-to-ship power and green refueling infrastructure will minimize air and water
pollution from vessels at berth, while green belts and energy-efficient technologies will
contribute to ecosystem vitality and pollution control.
(c) & (d) To ensure compliance, all Major Ports are mandated to prepare action plans
with timelines for implementation of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs). These
plans include installation of real-time monitoring systems for air, water, noise, and
effluents, as well as independent annual environmental audits.
(e) The guidelines emphasize active collaboration with stakeholders, including terminal
operators, shipping lines, logistics providers, government agencies, and private entities.
Incentives such as priority berthing and fee rebates are encouraged for vessels and
operators using cleaner fuels or electric equipment. The Ministry also provides financial
incentives in the form of VRC rebates for promoting Coastal Shipping, VRC rebates for
vessels using cleaner fuels, shipbuilding financial assistance for the shipyards for
construction of hybrid and Green vessels etc., in order to ensure seamless transition from
the conventional to green and sustainable mode of operations.
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