Environmental
Policy Statement of the Gujarat Maritime Board:
The
GMB recognises environmental management as an integrated part of its
port policy and a key factor to sustainable development of the Gujarat
Coast. Proper environmental management is regarded as a tool to reduce
environmental risks and liabilities in the future.
GMB’s
environmental policy is to:
-
to
comply with all relevant environmental legislation of Gujarat state,
the government of India and international conventions and agreements
to which the government of
India committed itself;
-
minimise
the environmental impacts of port operations and new developments in
Gujarat and seek continual improvement in the environmental
performance of all GMB ports; strive for usage and development of
GMB ports to be consistent with the concept of sustainable
development;
-
communicate
in a transparent manner on the environmental performance of GMB
ports to key stakeholders, government and the community;
-
work
co-operatively with other organisations, as NGO’s, Institutes and
Universities, were it will help to achieve the environmental
objectives of the GMB;
-
maintain
a high level of environmental awareness with all employees and hold
them accountable for environmental performance in their area so that
they carry out their duties in accordance with legislation and
company regulations;
-
ensure
that contractors engaged by GMB to meet GMB’s environmental
standards and requirements and comply with relevant legislation;
-
Oblige
ports tenants and lessees to meet the GMB’s environmental
standards and requirements.
All
activities under GMB responsibility among which ship-breaking and port
operations, despite their economical importance, should not impact
unnecessarily on biological diversity, ecological processes, valuable
marine resource such as fisheries and other users of the marine
environment, traditional lifestyles, tourism and recreation.
The
environmental policy is translated into the following concrete
objectives.
The
GMB recognises environmental management as an integrated part of its
port policy and a key factor to sustainable development of the Gujarat
Coast. Proper environmental management is regarded as a tool to reduce
environmental risks and liabilities in the future.
Objectives:
-
GMB will integrate environmental issues in own operations through
procedures and working methods;
-
Environmental issues will be incorporated in contracts with third
parties such as tenants and leases; this will include responsibilities,
risks and liabilities.
To
comply with all relevant environmental legislation of Gujarat State, the
government of India and international conventions and agreements to
which the government of India committed itself;
Objectives:
-
Identify
environment related legal requirements to be fulfilled and to develop
guidelines for internal use to ensure compliance;
-
Ensure
that projects carried out are in line with the Coastal Zone Management
plans;
-
Evolve documented procedures and systems according to the
principles of the ISO 14001 and Environmental Management Systems in
order to facilitate possible development of an EMS for the GMB in the
future;
Minimise
the environmental impacts of port operations and new developments in
Gujarat and seek continual improvement in the environmental performance
of all GMB ports; Strive for usage and development of GMB ports to be
consistent with the concept of sustainable development;
Objectives:
-
Develop and maintain contingency and emergency response plans for
GMB operated ports in line with NOS-DCP;
-
Provide port reception facilities for ship generated waste and
cargo related residues;
-
Provide and develop such facilities that cargo handling and
storage have no undue environmental impacts;
-
Develop and implement a hazardous waste management system in
accordance with regulations;
-
Identify suitable dumping sites to mitigate the adverse impact of
dredge material;
-
Monitoring of environmental key-parameters in Ports
-
support, encourage and inform third parties about Best Available
Techniques which minimise environmental harm and options for Integrated
Pollution Prevention and Control (waste minimisation).
Communicate
in a transparent manner on the environmental performance of GMB ports to
key stakeholders, government and the community;
Objectives:
-
Foster openness and dialogue with employees and public,
anticipating and responding to their concerns about potential hazards
and impacts of any new port projects;
-
Provide periodically appropriate information to all stakeholders;
-
Ensure public accountability on the environmental performance of
the GMB.
Work
co-operatively with other organisations, as NGO’s, Institutes and
Universities, were it will help to achieve the environmental objectives
of the GMB;
Objectives:
-
Invite
other organisations to participate in finding solutions for specific
environmental problems;
-
Organise
seminars and information meetings concerning environment.
Maintain
a high level of environmental awareness with all employees and hold them
accountable for environmental performance in their area so that they
carry out their duties in accordance with legislation and company
regulations;
Objectives:
-
Educate train and motivate employees to conduct their activities
in an environmentally responsible manner;
-
Provide
training for all key managers and related staff within GMB to work in an
environmentally responsible manner;
Ensure
that contractors engaged by GMB to meet GMB’s environmental standards
and requirements and comply with relevant legislation;
Objectives:
-
Promote the adaptation of sustainable development by contractors
acting on behalf of the GMB, encouraging and were appropriate requiring
improvements in their practices to make them consistent with those of
the GMB
Oblige
ports tenants and lessees to meet the GMB’s environmental standards
and requirements.
Objectives:
-
Establish a protocol to check if ports tenants and lessees apply
to the conditions set out by the control bodies at the time of approval
of the projects;
Environment
