Lok Sabha Question No. 3041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-03
Subject: Inland Waterways
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3041 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd AUGUST, 2017

## INLAND WATERWAYS

## 3041. SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL: SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

- (a) the operational status of the 106 new inland waterways in the country;
- (b) whether any assessment study has been conducted to ascertain the level of pollution likely to be caused as a result thereof;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the area of forest land needed to operationalise these inland waterways;
- (e) whether the Government has decided to make ten waterways functional in the first phase in the country;
- (f) if so, the details of these waterways indicating their length along with the beginning and ending points; and
- (g) the names of the rivers along with the availability of average level of water depth in these rivers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a):      106  new  National  Waterways  (NWs)  have  been  declared  under  the  National Waterways Act, 2016.   Out  of  these,  32  NWs  have  been  found  to  be  technically feasible  for  navigational  purposes,  out  of  which,  development  of  seven  NWs (Annex-I) for navigation has been taken up.  As per completed feasibility reports, 20 NWs have been found to be technically non-viable for navigational purposes by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).   In respect of two NWs i.e. NW-53 and NW-101,  studies  are  being  conducted  by  the  Maharashtra  Maritime  Board  and Government of Nagaland, respectively.  The feasibility studies of the remaining 52 NWs has been undertaken by the IWAI.
- (b)&(c):Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and pollution mitigation strategies are an integral part of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the development of the NWs for  navigational purposes. The Inland Vessels Act, 1917 which is implemented by the  State  Governments,  provides  for  prevention  and  control  of  pollution  and protection of inland waterways.
- (d): At present, there is no proposal to acquire forest land for the development of NWs mentioned  in Annex-I .
- (e)to(g):The development of seven NWs for navigational purposes is being undertaken. The details of these NWs along with their length, beginning and ending points and the availability of average water depth is enclosed in Annex -II .

## Annexure - I

|   Sl. No. | Status of Development of Seven new National Waterways                             | Status of Development of Seven new National Waterways                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | River Barak (NW 16):                                                              | Dredging work for development of fairway awarded. Consultant has been engaged for upgradation of terminals at Badarpur, Karimganj and new floating terminal at Silchar.                                                                           |
|         2 | 03 (Three) Waterways in Goa (NW- 27:Cumberjua, NW 68 - Mandovi, NW 111 - Zuari ): | A proposal for development of these NWs at a cost of INR 22.65 crore has been approved on 02.06.2017. Work is proposed to be executed through Government of Goa with the assistance of Mormugao Port Trust. Tripartite MoU is under finalization. |
|         3 | Alappuzha-Kottayam- Athirampuzha Canal (NW-9) :                                   | Proposal for development at a cost of Rs.1.60 crore has been approved on 02.06.2017. Tendering is in progress for award of work.                                                                                                                  |
|         4 | River Gandak (NW-37) :                                                            | Proposal for development at a cost of Rs.12.91 crore has been approved on 02.06.2017. Tendering is in progress for award of work.                                                                                                                 |
|         5 | River Rupnarayan (NW- 86) :                                                       | Proposal for development at a cost of Rs.24.00 crore has been approved on 02.06.2017. Tendering is in progress for award of work.                                                                                                                 |

## Annexure -II

## Details of 07 new NWs on which development process has been initiated

|   Sl. No. | NW No.   | National Waterway number with origin 7 ending point                                                                                                                     |   Distance (in KM) | Depth (in Meter)   |
|-----------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|         1 | NW-37    | Gandak River: Bhaisastlotal Barrage near Trivenighat to Gandak& Ganga rivers confluence at Hazipur                                                                      |              295.7 | 1.50 to 10.50      |
|         2 | NW-86    | Rupnarayan River: Confluence of Dwarkaeshwar and Silai rivers at Pratappur to confluence with Hooghly river at Geonkhali                                                |               45   | 0.18 to 1.98       |
|         3 | NW-9     | Alappuzha- Kottayam- Athirampuzha Canal: from Alappuzha to Athirampuzha                                                                                                 |               38   | 0.28 to 6.78       |
|         4 | NW-68    | Mandovi River: Bridge at Ushaon to confluence of Mandovi river with Arabian Sea at Reis Magos                                                                           |               41   | 2.0 to 2.50        |
|         5 | NW-111   | Zuari River: Sanvordem Bridge to Marmugao Port.                                                                                                                         |               50   | 2.0 to 2.50        |
|         6 | NW-27    | Cumberjua River: Confluencve of Cumberjua and Zuavari rivers near Cortalim ferry terminal to confluence of Cumberjua and Mandovi rivers Near Sao MartiasVidhanParishad. |               17   | 1.50 to 2.00       |
|         7 | NW-16    | Barak river: Lakhipur Ferry Ghat to Tuker Gram                                                                                                                          |              121   | 1.50 to 2.00       |

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