Page 4 - Sarbananda Sonowal

Sarbananda Sonowal introduces two shipping-related bills in Lok Sabha

Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday introduced two bills -- Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, and the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, seeks to comply with the international convention and with the changing global scenario in the shipping industry. Saugata Roy (TMC) opposed the introduction of the bill saying that the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, has been serving its purpose for the past 100 years and The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, only has some minor amendments. "This superfluous legislation should be done away with, it does not help the country," Roy said. Responding to Roy, Sonowal said the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, is already 100 year-old and hence to comply with the international convention and changing global scenario it was necessary to bring in simplification for ease of understanding of the law. "I believe this bill is necessary and is imperative to bring certain ..

Govt will come out with new shipbuilding policy soon: Shipping Minister

The industry had shown several concerns about the policy, which are now being deliberated on by the ministry before it unveils the final policy

From student leader to 3 term minister, Sonowal sworn in as Union minister

Assam MP Sarbananda Sonowal, a fire-brand student leader who battled odds to become chief minister, was on Sunday inducted into the Narendra Modi-led cabinet for the third time. Sonowal was the Minister of State for Sports & Youth Welfare for two years from 2014, as the northeast's sole representative in the Union Council of Ministers, before he scripted BJP's historic win in Assam to become the CM, only to relinquish the post and become a cabinet minister in the Modi 2.0 government in 2021. From the rough and tumble of student politics to becoming a minister thrice, Sonowal's political journey has been punctuated by twists and turns along the way. As a dynamic student leader who went on to join the state's most prominent regional party, the Asom Gana Parishad, and later switched over to the BJP, Sonowal was Modi's obvious choice as the chief minister of Assam when the saffron party won for the first time in the northeast in 2016. However, during the 2021 assembly elections, the ..

Chabahar: From more port pacts to managing risk, India's next move revealed

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal says the India-Iran long-term agreement for operating the Chabahar port could become a template for future port pacts

After long wait, India inks Chabahar port's 10-year deal with Iran

India's plans with the port go beyond commercial interests, according to the Centre

India to sign 10-year agreement with Iran to manage Chabahar Port

Chabahar Port will serve as a vital link connecting India to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the broader Eurasian region

Lok Sabha elections: Different party, but same Dibrugarh seat for Sonowal

When the BJP won the Assembly elections again in 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma succeeded Sonowal, who was sent to the Rajya Sabha and inducted in the Union Cabinet

CAA won't impact indigenous people, NDA will win at least 12 seats: Sonowal

Asserting that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will not impact the indigenous people of Assam, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said the ruling NDA will win at least 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the upcoming elections. In an interview to PTI, the Union Ports, Shipping, Waterways and Ayush Minister claimed that all sections of society, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, are happy with the NDA government as it has protected their interests over the last 10 years. "CAA is a national law. Whatever the situation the opposition is creating with baseless provocative statements, this is not going to affect the concern of common and very knowledgeable citizens of Assam," he said. The common people know that the law is not going to affect their interest and after the publication of the rules, they have come to the reality of the pros and cons of the act, said Sonowal, who is the BJP candidate in the Dibrugarh seat. "We are saying that don't try to make a

Tamil Nadu's VOC Port will be India's first green hydrogen hub: Sonowal

The VOC Port at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu will become India's first green hydrogen hub as it will develop an ecosystem of green ports and also emerge as a transshipment hub when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches numerous initiatives on February 28, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday. Also, Chennai would become the gateway to the Eastern Maritime Corridor to Vladivostok, Russia, and further increase the bilateral trade between the two countries, he said. "Tomorrow PM Modi will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate, and dedicate to the nation 36 transformative projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore. This is a step towards Viksit Bharat @2047," Sonowal told reporters here. About 30 projects under his Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways worth Rs 10,324 crore would be inaugurated, foundation laid or dedicated by the prime minister, he said. Of these, six projects worth Rs 7,587 crore are only in the two ports in Tamil Nadu. "Only a few years ago, our prime minister ha

Traditional system of medicines gaining worldwide acceptance: Sonowal

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said traditional medicines like Ayush have gained a new lease of life, and are being recognised worldwide for their efficacy. He also said that the traditional medicine sector of India has grown beyond geographical boundaries and reached a global market, under the BJP-led central government. The Union Minister of Ayush was speaking after inaugurating a centre of excellence at the State Ayurvedic College and Hospital here. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken leadership position in the revamp of traditional medicines worldwide... This has helped our traditional medicine sector to grow out of its regular geography and communities to reach a wider population across communities from different parts of the world," Sonowal said. He said prior to 2014, the market value of Ayush products in India was limited to Rs 24,000 crore. But now, the country's Ayush products have gained a market of Rs 4.50 lakh crore ..

India, Iran discuss development of cooperation between two countries

Both South Asia and the Persian Gulf have strong commercial, energy, cultural and people-to-people links, the MEA said

Bilateral trade between India, Russia likely to increase this year: Sonowal

Bilateral trade between India and Russia was at USD 50 billion in the last financial year and is expected to increase this year, said Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, here on Wednesday. The Eastern Maritime Corridor between the ports on the east coast of India and the Far East region of Russia promises "immense potential" to unlock new trade opportunities, he said. The minister was speaking at a conference on 'Operationalising Eastern Maritime Corridor' which was attended by a delegation from Moscow led by A Yu Bobrakov, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic of the Russian Federation, among others. While welcoming the visiting delegates, Sonowal said the India-Russia partnership is strong and steady building upon strategic convergence, geo-political interests and mutually beneficial cooperation. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains engaged with President Putin through telephonic conversation. The latest discussion t

India moving towards integrated medicine approach with Ayush: Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said the country is moving towards an integrated approach where the Ayush system of medicine will be used along with the modern ones. The minister also laid the foundation stone for Ayush Diksha', a first-of-its-kind centre for the development of human resources for ayush professionals in future. The centre will be developed on the campus of Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Bhubaneswar. Sonowal also asserted that the Ayush movement has "gained a lot of prominence" in the last 10 years. We are moving towards an integrated medicine approach where an empowered Ayush system of medicine will also be used along with the modern medicine system," the minister said. The integrated medicinal approach will prove as a "boon for the people of the country" as they can move towards healing their ailments as well as enriching their quality of life by empowering their physical and mental well-being, the minister said. Sonowal, the minister of Ayus

250 million people lifted out of poverty by Modi govt: Union Min Sonowal

More than 25 crore Indians have been pulled out from poverty during the nine and half years of the BJP-led NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Speaking at a public gathering in Kendrapara district on Friday, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush said Modi's dynamic and inspiring leadership has ensured that the fruits of governance reach everyone in the society. By nipping rampant corrupt practices of previous Congress governments in the bud, he has ensured that the progressiveness and inclusiveness in governance are executed in letter and spirit, Sonwal said. The days of "corrupt, inefficient and clueless" governance under Congress, which was marked with people suffering from poverty, hunger and distress, are a thing of the past now, he said. "The Modi Ki Guarantee programme will ensure welfare of the people and reinforce our commitment towards building a Viksit Bharat, an Atmanirbhar .

PM Modi dedicates Rs 4,000 crore worth of projects to nation in Kochi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated projects worth Rs 4,000 crore to the nation on Wednesday, including key strategic initiatives at Cochin Shipyard Limited. The projects comprise a 310-metre-long dry dock, constructed to international standards, and the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF), India's first fully developed pure ship repair ecosystem. Additionally, the dedication includes the IOCL's LPG import terminal. Prior to the inauguration, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, reviewed the preparation of the projects at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Tuesday. The government anticipates that with the dedication of these projects, CSL is poised to double its turnover within the next four years to Rs 7,000 crores.

Govt to invest Rs 60,000 cr in river cruise tourism, green vessels

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said the government would invest Rs 60,000 crore by 2047 in river cruise tourism and development of green vessels. "We are going to invest Rs 45,000 crore in river cruise, which will take the passenger capacity from 2 lakh to 15 lakh by 2047," he said on the sidelines of the first Inland Waterways Development Council meeting here. Sonowal also said the government aims at investing another Rs 15,000 crore in green transport over the next 10 years to develop 1,000 vessels and ferries. "In total, there will be a Rs 60,000-crore investment by 2047, and it will be through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The projects will help generate thousands of jobs," the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. The council meeting, represented by officials of around 20 states and Union territories, also saw the unveiling of Harit Nauka' guidelines for green transition of inland vessels and the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047. The ...

Sonowal to chair first Inland Waterways Development Council meet on Monday

The Inland Waterways Authority of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), is set to host the inaugural 'Inland Waterways Development Council' meeting in Kolkata on Monday.According to an official statement issued from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the day-long meeting on board the vessel MV Ganga Queen, by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, will bring together key figures from across the waterways states and central government including Shripad Naik and Shantanu Thakur, Ministers of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways."The event will also see the participation of Ministers from various State Governments, accompanied by their principal secretaries, Secretaries, alongside numerous senior officers of the Central Government and domain experts in the field" the ministry said in its statement.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will also unveil groundbreaking initiatives, including "Harit

11 firms expressed interest in port project in Great Nicobar Island: Govt

The government has received expressions of interest (EOIs) from 11 players for the Rs 41,000-crore international transhipment port project at Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday. Last year, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in a statement said the project is expected to be completed with an investment of Rs 41,000 crore (USD 5 billion), including investment from both government and public-private partnership (PPP) concessionaires. "11 players have submitted expressions of interest for the international transhipment port project at Great Nicobar Island," the ports, shipping and waterways minister said. The EOI was sought on January 28, 2022. The proposed port in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will have the ultimate capacity to handle 16 million containers per year, and in the first phase, to be commissioned by 2028 at a cost of Rs 18,000 crore, it will handle more than 4 million containers. Other projects plann

Ram Temple inauguration: 'It is a matter of great pride', says Sonowal

As PM Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of Lord Ram's idol in Ayodhya's Ram Temple on January 22, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "We always seek blessings from Lord Ram "

North East has become powerhouse of India's growth under PM Modi: Sonowal

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday that the North East has become a "powerhouse of India's growth" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Addressing a press conference, the former Assam chief minister said Modi has delivered more than his guarantees for the region during his over nine years at the helm during which "peace and security" have been restored in the region which faced decades of "neglect" under the Congress' rule. Sonowal said over Rs 5 lakh crore grant has been given to the eight states in the region in over nine years in a major boost to its infrastructure, including roadway, railways, waterways and air connectivity. The number of airports has risen to 17 from nine, he added. Targeting the Congress, which used to be most powerful political force in North East, he said terrorism, protests, weak governments, bad policies and scams afflicted the region under its rule as people faced an uncertain future. The Congress, he alleged, was mostly ...