Government to develop National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, Gujarat for an estimated cost of Rs. 4,500 Cr.

NMHC to be developed as an internaonal tourist desnaon showcasing India’s rich marime heritage

NEW DELHI: Under the Sagarmala programme, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is developing a National Maritime Heritage Complex, a world-class facility at Lothal, Gujarat. NMHC would be developed as an international tourist destination, where the maritime heritage of India from ancient to modern times would be showcased and an edutainment approach using the latest technology would be adopted to spread awareness about India’s maritime heritage.

In this line, an onsite project progress review meeting was held on 2nd July 2023 at Lothal, Gujarat. The project was reviewed by Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, the Chief Minister, of Gujarat; Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & WaterwaysandAYUSH;Dr.Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals&Fertilizers;ShriShripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism; and Shri Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State for Ports, ShippingandWaterways.

Themaritimecomplexwillinclude world’s highest light house museum, world’s largest open aquatic gallery, India’sgrandestnavalmuseumandis envisaged to be one of the biggest international tourist destinations in theworld.

The boost to the tourism potential throughthisprojectwillalsoaugment the economic development of the region.

The complex, work which started inMarch2022,isbeingdevelopedata cost of around Rs 4500 crores. It will have several innovative and unique features such as Lothal mini recreation to recreate Harappan architecture and lifestyle; four theme parks - Memorial theme park, Maritime and Navy theme park, Climate theme park and Adventure and Amusement theme park; fourteengallerieshighlightingIndia’s maritime heritage starting from the Harappan times till now; Coastal states pavilion displaying diverse maritime heritage of states and UTs; amongothers.

Kolkata Port eyes mechanisation push in cargo handling operations

KOLKATA: Around 85% of the cargo operations at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port (SMP) or Kolkata Port will be handled mechanically by 2030 and around Rs250croreofcapitalinvestmentwill be required to go for the mechanisation, said Kolkata port chairman Rathendra Raman while addressingaconferenceorganisedby BNCCI.

“Ourtargetistoidentifyproblems and weaknesses and take measures to bring the cargo traffic back to

Kolkata. We have recently lost a lot cargotraffictoVizagportandnow,we willworktobringdownthecost,”said Raman. Entry of large vessels into Haldia dock complex is a matter of concern.

“We would ensure the availability of floating cranes if the cargo volume exceeds five million tonne. A number ofprojectsarelinedupandifthereisa higher demand especially from southeastAsia,thenKolkataportcan again be the first point of contact when it comes to ports,” he added, while speaking on the prospects to improvetheportsystem.

According to him, IndiaBangladesh protocol can possibly do away with railway transport between thecountriesandtrialsareon.

BNCCI President Debashish Dutta said: “Smooth exports to our neighbouringcountriessuchasNepal andBangladeshisnotjustamatterof business but also a matter of international relations. Development of port and warehouses requires the supportofallstakeholders.”

Seafood Exports to soon get eco-certification in Kerala

COCHIN: Eight years after enforcing minimum legal size (MLS) in the marine fisheries sector, Kerala is all set to introduce another progressive regulation in the fisheries sector to protect marine resources and ensure sustainable fishingpractices.

The plan is to introduce ecocertification for seafood exports, which will reduce the stress on marine resources and ensure a premium price for seafood in AmericanandEuropeanmarkets.

However, the move has set off a debate with the Seafood Exporters Association (SEAI) insisting on the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification programme and traditional fishermen and trawl boat owners demanding a desi eco-certification system. While the state government and Union fisheries department have extended support to the proposal to enter the MSC regime, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has mooted the idea of launching India’s own ecocertificationprogramme.

First batch of ‘Made in Telangana’ garments exported to New York

HYDERABAD: The garments manufactured in the Sircilla for the firsttimehavedirectlybeenexported to New York by Green Needle, a manufacturing unit in the Sircilla ApparelPark.

Through the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai, approximately1.17lakhboxesmade of GAP organic cotton are ready for thefirstdelivery.

Taking to Twitter, state Industries minister KT Rama Rao tweeted the informationabouttheexport.

“Happy to share that the first direct export cargo has been shipped by GREEN NEEDLE — the first factory at the Sircilla Apparel park for first customer—Gap organic Cotton boxers on their way to New York via JNPTatMumbai,”hetweeted

“All Made In SIRCILLA / Telangana / India. May millions more follow”Raoadded

The apparel park was established in Sircilla on about 60 acres for the manufacturingofgarmentsunderthe direction of Gokaldas Images Private Limited. The Green Needle has likewise set up its unit in the apparel park with clothing brand GAP being oneofitsclients.