VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam Port has been adjudged the second cleanest in the Country by the Union Shipping Ministry, according to Port Chairman M.T Krishna Babu.
He said that the Quality Council of India, an independent agency set up by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (Ministry of Commerce) with the involvement of Assocham, CII and FICCI, was appointed to conduct the study under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
In the rankings Haldia Dock emerged as the No. 1 and Visakhapatnam Port No. 2 among the Major Ports in India in maintaining cleanliness. Haldia scored 30 marks more than Visakhapatnam Port.
Krishna Babu, who returned here after receiving the award in Panaji from Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said the employees of the port as well as the stevedores and other stakeholders had cooperated wholeheartedly in keeping the port clean.
Measures like cleaning the wharf, sold waste management, covered stacking area, recycling of sewage water, dust suppression, greenery, generating solar power and constructing high-rise wall to prevent spread of particles had helped Visakhapatnam Port score more marks than other Major Ports.
He said the port had undertaken massive mechanization for the past few years to reduce pollution.
He added that the port had undertaken projects worth INR 5,000 crore to make it world-class by increasing the capacity from 98 million tonnes (mt) to 135 mt by 2019. Half of the sum had already been spent on the ongoing projects.
Source: Dailyshippingtimes.com
