The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways in order to bring the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ in
the dredging sector has issued addendum to the Dredging Guidelines for Major
Ports 2021. This will make provision for use of dredging material for
beneficial purposes in bidding process with necessary clearance from the
authorities.
The Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports were announced
in 2021. The Guidelines includes latest technological systems on survey
and investigations recommended for capital dredging projects.
The guidelines directed to work out dredging cost
scientifically taking into consideration the operation cost and the
mobilization & demobilization along with other cost of dredgers. Guideline
further directed to engage two different agencies for Project Management
Consultancy and Third Party Survey to avoid conflict of interest.
With this addendum to the previous Guidelines, the beneficial use of dredged material has
to be adequately explored and accordingly the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’
in the dredging sector has been highlighted, which is now being issued to the
Major Ports, Inland
Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and Dredging Corporation
of India (DCI) which are under administrative control of the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways.
The Addendum to the Dredging Guidelines outlines the
wide range of beneficial use of dredged material including engineering use for
construction purposes, environmental enhancement including beach nourishment
etc. There is need for extensive study of the characteristics of the dredged
soil with Geo technical data of the dredging area of the dredging project.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and
Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted
that ‘the implementation of the dredging project with beneficial use of dredged
material, is expected to bring down the cost of the dredging and also ensure
environment sustainability as per the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and the
mantra of 3R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle given by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’.
The Dredging companies may undertake the disposal of
the dredged material while promoting the concept of Waste to Wealth.