Feedback

How India Plans to Achieve 100% Green Inland Water Vessels by 2047 with HaritNauka Guidelines

India is on a transformative journey to revolutionize its inland water transportation system through the ambitious HaritNauka Guidelines, aiming for 100% green inland water vessels by 2047. Launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), these guidelines are a significant step towards sustainable and eco-friendly water transportation, promoting green energy and reducing carbon emissions.

HaritNauka Guidelines: Vision and Objectives

The HaritNauka Guidelines were unveiled during the first meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council on January 8, 2024. These guidelines set a clear vision for the complete transition to green vessels by 2047. The main objectives include:

Developing and Operationalizing New Age Green Vessels:

• Designing and building vessels with green and safe infrastructure.
• Ensuring all new vessels are equipped with sustainable technologies.

Creating an Enabling Ecosystem:

• Promoting an operational environment conducive to green vessel operations.
• Facilitating policy support and financial incentives for green technology adoption.

Promoting Green Inland Waterway Passenger Transport:

• Enhancing passenger transport systems to be safe, convenient, and environmentally friendly.
• Encouraging the use of green vessels for river cruise tourism.

Fostering Indigenous Capacity and ‘Make in India’ Policy:

• Boosting domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
• Encouraging local manufacturing of green vessels and related infrastructure.

Enabling Financial Assistance:

• Providing financial support for developing green vessels and associated ecosystems.
• Incentivizing stakeholders to invest in green technologies.

The River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047

The River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 is another crucial aspect of India's green initiatives, focusing on four vital pillars: infrastructure, integration, accessibility, and policy. This roadmap aims to enhance river cruise tourism while ensuring sustainability and eco-friendliness.

Infrastructure: Developing state-of-the-art facilities to support green vessels and promote eco-friendly tourism.

Integration: Integrating green vessels into the broader transportation network to ensure seamless connectivity.

Accessibility: Ensuring easy access to green transportation options for passengers, promoting wider adoption.

Policy: Implementing supportive policies to encourage green energy usage in river cruise tourism.

Government Actions and Green Port Guidelines

In addition to the HaritNauka Guidelines, the MoPSW has also launched the HaritSagar Green Port Guidelines in May 2023. These guidelines aim to reduce carbon emissions in port operations through focused green interventions. Major ports are encouraged to develop comprehensive action plans, targeting significant reductions in carbon footprints.

The government has taken several steps to implement these guidelines:

Policy Framework: Establishing a robust policy framework to support green initiatives in inland water transport and port operations.

Financial Incentives: Providing financial assistance and incentives for adopting green technologies in vessels and port infrastructure.

Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with state governments and private stakeholders to promote green vessel operations and infrastructure development.

Research and Development: Investing in research and development to innovate and enhance green technologies in water transportation.