Lok Sabha Question No. 4483 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-22
Subject: National Waterways Projects in Kerala
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: K. C. VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4483 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22"d MARCH, 2018 NATIONAL WATERWAYS  PROJECTS IN KERALA

## 4483. SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased  to state:

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- (a) the measures taken/being  by the Government to complete the work on National Watenvays in various  States in the country including Kerala;
- (b) the details of steps taken so far to complete  the work on AlappuzhaChanganassery, Alappuzha-Kottayam-Athirampuzha  and Kottayam-Vaikom sections  as part of National  Watenrays projects;
- (c) whether  the Government  proposes  to reslove the concerns of fishermens commmunity regarding the dredging activities in these waterways damaging their  fishing infrastructures;  and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a): National  Waterway  (NW)-1, National Watenaray-2 and National  Waterway-3  are operational  and cargo and passenger  vessel are moving on them. After the declaration of 111 National Waterways  under the National Waterways Act, 20'16, the important steps taken for their development  for shipping  and navigation are as follows:
- (i) The Jal Marg Vikas Project is being implemented for capacity augmentation of navigation of NW-'l on the Haldia-Varanasi  stretch of Ganga at a cost of Rs.5369 crore with technical and financial  support of World Bank. The construction is going on for three multi-modal terminals,  inter-modal terminal and navigational  lock at Farakka. River lnformation System (RlS) has been commissioned from Farakka to Haldia.
- (ii) On NW-2, Ro Ro services between  Hatsingmari and Ohubri and construction of ship repair  facility  at Pandu  have commenced.

- (iii) on NW-3 in Kerala, reconstruction  of lockgate at rrikunapuzha  at a cost of Rs.38  crore has been sanctioned.
- On NW-4 in the Vijaywada-Muktyala stretch of river Krishna, works for development  of fainrrray  and installation  of floating  terminal at four locations have commenced. (iv)
- (v) On development  of NW-S, preparation  of DpR including Front End Engineering  Design for the construction  of weirs with navigational  lock and check dams between Pankapar and  paradip/Dhamra  has been sanctioned.
- Out of the 36 new NWs found technically  viable as per feasibility reports, development  activities have been initiated  on  g  NWs in 2017-18. A list of these B NWs is enclosed as Annexure. (vi)

(b): subsequent to the decraration of Arappuzha-changanassery  canar (NW-g), Alappuzha-Kottayam-Athirampuzha canal (NW-9) and Kottayam-Vaikom  canal (NW59) as NWs, and based on the feasibility studies, preparation  of Detailed  project Reports  (DPRs) for these NWs have been sanctioned. To ensure safety of the exisiing vessel operations on NW-9, development works including dredging by the Departmental dredgers have been taken up by lnland  Watenrvays  Authority of lndia (lWAl).

(c)&(d): lwAl has not received  any report  on the concerns  of fishermen related to dredging activity on NWs in Kerala.

Annexure

## List of 8 new Nationa! waterwavs  taken up for Development  in 2017-18

| Name of the Waterway                                                    | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1. River Barak (NW-16) in Assam                                         | Phase -1 of NW-16 from Silchar to Bhanga is being developed at a cost of Rs.76.01 crore. Maintenance dredging for fainruay development work in Silchar-Bhanga stretch has commenced. DPRs for the upgradation of terminals at Badarpur, Karimganj and new floating terminal at Silchar are at an advanced stage. |
| 2. River Gandak (NW- 37) in U.P. & Bihar                                | Proposal for development at a been approved on 02.06.2017 work has commenced. cost of Rs.12.91 crore has and fairway maintenance                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Waterways in Goa 3. NW-27-Cumberjua 4. NW 68 - Mandovi 5. NW 111 -Zuari | A proposal for the development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of Rs. 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. A Tripartite MoU is expected to be signed for the commencement of works.             |
| 6. Alappuzha Kottayam Athirampuzha Canal (NW-g) : Kerala                | Proposal for development of the watenruay at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore has been approved on 02.06.2017. Tendering for night navigation facilities has been completed. Dredging is proposed departmentally.                                                                                             |
| 7. River Rupnarayan (NW-86) in West Bengal                              | Proposal for development of the watenruay at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.00 crore has been approved on 02.06.2017. Work has been awarded for setting up of floating terminal.                                                                                                                                    |
| S.Sunderbans Waterways (NW-97) in West Bengal                           | Proposal for the development of watenruay at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.10 crore has been sanctioned on 10.08.2017. Tender for dredging and floating terminals are in advanced stages.                                                                                                                          |