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Context

• SAGAR SAMRIDDHI is an online dredging monitoring system which will accelerate ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative of the Ministry.
• A Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal were present for the launch.

Details

• This system has been developed by the technological arm of MoPSW - National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC).
• It will improve the old system of Draft & Loading Monitor (DLM) system.
• Only Cochin Port and Mumbai Port, have adopted the system currently.
• It will bring collaboration and synergy between various reports and provide real time information on dredging report.
• Sagar Samriddhi will also have a monitoring system for variety of activities for more transparency and efficiency which includes
  • Daily and monthly progress Visualisation.
  • Dredger performance and downtime monitoring.
  • Easy location track data with snapshot of loading, unloading and idle time.
• It supports the Vision of Zero defect and Zero Effect.
• In project implementation human error will be minimised.
• It will encourage waste to wealth initiative which treat waste to generate energy, recycle materials and extract worth -
  • By using dredged materials bringing down the cost of dredging.
  • It enables effective reuse of dredged material.
  • Improving Productivity.
  • Better contract management.
  • Ensuring environment sustainability.
• It will help in developing Major Ports as trans-shipment hubs.
• Promotion to capacity building by deepening their channels.

Background

• There is an annual maintainace of 100 million cubic meters of dredging which costs Rs.1000 crores annually.

Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports

• These guidelines were issued in 2021 to help major Ports in formulating the dredging projects and their timely completion.

Purpose of these guidelines

• Outlining the procedure for planning and preparation.
• Technical investigations.
• Dredged material management.
• Estimating the cost of dredging.
• To provide fair and equal opportunity for any new entrant to dredging industry

Addendum to the Dredging Guidelines 2021

• It was issued in March 2023 which included guidelines necessary provision in bidding documents for the purpose of
  • Disposal of dredged material by Major ports.
  • Reduction in the dredging cost.
  • Use of dredged material for construction purposes, beach nourishment etc.

National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC)

• This technological arm of MoPSW was established at IIT Madras under the Sagarmala Programme.

Contribution of NTCPWC to Marine sector and Shipping Industry

• Modelling of Ocean.
• Determining the Flow of Estuaries.
• Sediment transport and morph dynamics.
• Navigation planning and Manoeuvring.
• Dredging and Siltation estimation.
• Consultancy on structure designs, autonomous Platforms & vehicles.
• Ocean renewable energy

Aims and Objectives

• Enable research & development for the marine sector.
• Search for solutions for developing a robust marine industry in India.
• Consultancy for the Port, Coastal, and Waterways sector.

Sagarmala

• The Sagarmala Programme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways the Government of India to harness India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.

Aims and Objectives

• It has an aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the country's logistics sector by
• Unlocking the waterways navigation
• Unlocking the potential of coastline.
• Developmental efforts in strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
• Cost effective investment in development of port infrastructure.
• To reduce logistics cost for EXIM and domestic trade.

Must read article:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/sagarmala-project-17

PRACTICE QUESTION How SAGAR SAMRIDDHI programme will help in strengthening the Sagarmala Program of Government of India. Discuss implication of SAGAR SAMRIDDHI programme for the growth of Shipping Industry in India.  (250 words)

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1931011