Lok Sabha Question No. 612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-09
Subject: Promotion of Inland Navigation
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 612

ANSWERED ON 09/12l2022

## PROMOTION OF INLAND NAVIGATION

612. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will  the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS  be pleased  to state:

qfi,  +dcfqf,{  ofusmqFf d-ff

- (a) whether the Government has given importance to  promotion  of inland navigation compared to surface transport and goods movement;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any incentives have been announced  to  promote  inland navigation in the countrY;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government  has constructed  new waterways  connecting  major rivers for the promotion of inland navigation so far; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS. SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. To promote  lnland  Water Transport (lWT) in the country,  '1 '11  waterways (including 5 existing  and 106 new) spread over 24 states have been declared  as National Waterways  under the National  WateMays  Act, 2016. Based on the outcome of technoeconomic feasibility  and Detailed  Project Reports (DPRs) of the NWs, 26 NWs have been found viable  for cargo/passenger  movement as detailed at Annex.-1.

(c)  &  (d)  To promote inland  waterways  as a supplementary,  eco-friendly  and cheaper mode of transport, waterway usage  charges levied  by the lWAl on vessels moving  on National Waterways have been waaved in July 2020, initially  for a period  of three  years.

(e) & (f) ln addition to pre-2016 existing  5 NWs, development of I new NWs for promotion of inland shipping have been taken up as detailed at Annex.-2.

## Annex.-1

## Llsr oF 26 NATIoNAL  wArERlylI?$-Wi) rouNoffisteLe ron cffieo I Passsl'lcen r'ioveMeNr

| sl. No   |             | Details of WateruvaYs                                                                        | Length (Km)   | STATES                                        |
|----------|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| 1        | NW1         | Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia Allahabad)                                     | - 1620        | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal |
| 2        | NW2         | Brahmaputra Rir"r (!h4! - Jg!iy.a).-                                                         | 891           | Assam                                         |
| 3        | NW 16       | Barak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram)                                                           | 121           | Assam                                         |
| 4        | NW3         | West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Chamoakara and Udvoqmandal Canals                    | 205           | Kerala                                        |
| 5        | NW4         | Krishna River (Vijayawada - Muklyqle)                                                        | oa            | Andhra Pradesh                                |
| 6        | NW5         | Dharn ra-P aradtp \ria t\,1 a ngala gadi to Pa nkopa I                                       | 233           | Odisha                                        |
| 7        | NW8         | Alappuzha- ChanganasserY Canal                                                               | 29            | Kerala                                        |
| 8        | NW9         | Alappuzha - Kottayam - Athirampuzha Canal                                                    | 40            | Kerala (Alternate route: 'l 1 .5km)           |
| 9        | NW 27       | e umberlua Rtver (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidhanParisad)                                | 17            | Goa                                           |
|          |             | River (Usgoan btidgg tgr)                                                                    | 41            | Goa                                           |
| 10 11    | NW 68 NW 86 | Mandovi !94tr!'r! Rupnarayan River (Pratap Pur to Geonkhali)                                 | 72            | West Bengal                                   |
| 12       | NW 97       | Sunderbans Watenrvay (Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal)                                          | 172           | West Bengal                                   |
| '13      | NW 11,1     | Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port)                                              | 50            | Goa                                           |
| 14       | NW 40       | Ghagra River (Faizabad to ManjhiGhat)                                                        | 345           | Bihar & U.P.                                  |
| IJ       | NW 1O       | Amba River (Arabian Sea, Dharamtaar Creek to Naqothane ST Stand)                             | 45            | Maharashtra                                   |
| 16       | NW 44       | lchamati River (Bridge at Gobra to Bansjhari near Banqladesh Border)                         | 63            | West Bengal                                   |
| 17       | NW 52       | Kali River (Kodasalli Dam to Sadashivgad Bridge, Arabian Sea)                                | 61            | Karnataka                                     |
| 18       | NW 57       | Kopili River (Banthai Gaon Tinali Bus Stop to Chandrapur No.2 confluence with Brahmaputra)   | 50            | Assam                                         |
| 19       | NW 25       | Chapora River (Bridge near Maneri village to Moriim, Arabian Sea)                            | 25            | Goa                                           |
| 20       | NW 37       | Gandak River (Bhaisa lotal Baqqge t! Fiaz!p!!-                                               | 296           | Bihar & U.P.                                  |
| 21       | NW 28       | Dabhol Creek Vasisti River (Arabian Sea at Dabhol to Bridqe at Pedhe)                        | 45            | Maharashtra                                   |
| 22       | NW 73       | Narmada River (Pandhariya to Gulf of Khambhat)                                               | 226           | Maharashtra & Guiarat                         |
| 23       | NW 85       | Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System (Arabian Sea at Revadanda to Bridge near Roha Naqa0 | 31            | Maharashtra                                   |
| 24       | NW 94       | Sone River (Sone Barrage, Dehri to Confluence with the Ganqa)                                | 141           | Bihar                                         |
|          | 25 NW 1OO   | Tapi River (Hatnur Dam to Gulf of Khambhat)                                                  | 436           | Maharashtra & Gujarat                         |
| 26       | NW 31       | Dhansiri River (Morongi T.E. village Bridge to N umaligarh)                                  | 110           | Assam                                         |

## The details  of  proiects  initiated on the 09 new national  waterwavs:

| st. No   | NW     | Details of Waterways/States                                             | Lengt h (Km)   | Projects started                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|----------|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | NW '16 | Ba rak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram) in Assam                            | 121            | Development of NW 16 and IBP route at a cost of Rs 145 crore during 2020-21 lo 2024-25 was approved by SFC. Declared as National Watenirray-16 (NW-16), Barak River connects Silchar, Karimganj and Badarpur in Cacher valley of Assam through road/watemay with Haldia and Kolkata ports through lndo-Bangladesh Protocol (lBP) Route. There are 10 activities as approved by SFC for NW-16 & IBP route. Out of these 10 activities, 03 are of permanent nature viz, (1) Construction of Terminal at Sonamura on Gumti river, (2) Construction of terminal at Maia on Ganga River and (3) Upgradation of Badarpur and Karimganj terminals, which are in consideration. The remaining 07 activities are of recurring nature viz., (j) Fairway development (2) O&M of navigational aids (3) Consultancy training (4) cargo promotion, and (5) amenities at ports of Call etc. These activities are carried out on annual maintenance basis under implementation at 2.S1yo progress till October 2022. |
| 2        | NW8    | Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal in Kerala                                | )o             | Development proposed as per hours navigational aids ('l 5 locations and being marntained. DPR recom mendations. 24 nos.) provided at critical                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 3        | NW9    | Alappuzha Kottayam Athirampuzha Canal in Kerala                         | 40             | Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 1.60 crore has commenced. Night navigation facilities has been installed. Waterway is already operational.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 4        | NW 27  | Cumberjua River (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidha n Pa ris ad) in Goa | 17             | NWs of Goa are operational under a Tripartite MoU with Govt. of Goa, Marmugao Port Authority & lWAl. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of INR 22.65 crore has commenced. Work for installation of 04 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.1 1 .33 crores on river Mandovi and river Chapora taken up. ln addition a fund of Rs 6.84 Crore has been released to Mormugao Port Authority on 02.O4.2022 for induction of navigational Aids.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| t        | NW 68  | Mandovi River (Usgoan bridge to Arabian Sea) in Goa                     | 41             | NWs of Goa are operational under a Tripartite MoU with Govt. of Goa, Marmugao Port Authority & lWAl. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of INR 22.65 crore has commenced. Work for installation of 04 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.1 1 .33 crores on river Mandovi and river Chapora taken up. ln addition a fund of Rs 6.84 Crore has been released to Mormugao Port Authority on 02.O4.2022 for induction of navigational Aids.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 6        | NW 111 | Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port) in Goa                  | 50             | NWs of Goa are operational under a Tripartite MoU with Govt. of Goa, Marmugao Port Authority & lWAl. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of INR 22.65 crore has commenced. Work for installation of 04 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.1 1 .33 crores on river Mandovi and river Chapora taken up. ln addition a fund of Rs 6.84 Crore has been released to Mormugao Port Authority on 02.O4.2022 for induction of navigational Aids.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 7        | NW 86  | Rupnarayan (Pratap Pur Geonkhali) in Bengal River to West               |                | Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 24.00 crore has commenced. lmprovement to road from NH to water front terminal at Kolaghat at a cost of Rs..1S.45 crore is being executed by lrrigation Dept., Govt. of West Bengal on deposit basis. Floating pontoon jetty is under construction for facilitating loading and unloadinq of fly-ash                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

## An nex. -2

| cargo. Permanent terminal is also proposed at-Kolaghat for -wnicn land acquisition completed in June 2022 and development is considered through annual scheme   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Sunderbans WatenaraY (Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal) in West Bengal   | Development of watenruay at an estimated cost of INR 18'10 crore has commenced' Dredging work by department dredger is proposed. Watenruay is part of lndo-Bangladesh Proticol route and already operationalfor vessels'                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| River Ghagra (Ayodhya to Ghaghra-Ganga Confluence)                   | F s been aPProved for fainruaY development by bandalling and day channel marking' creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys' scheme at a cost of Rs. 4.46 cr. has been sanctioned Juring 2021-22 for development under Phase-l of the wateruraY. |