Lok Sabha Question No. 564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: National Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 564 ANSWERED ON O4IO2I2O22

## NATIONAL  WATERWAYS

## 564. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS  be pleased  to state: qf,-{,  frd  qfa{6;l  efu  qsqrrf q*

- (a)  the details of the work in progress on the 37 prioritised national waterways in the country, State-wise  particularly in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the amount of funds allocated to Andhra Pradesh  for the development of these waterways during the last two years;
- (c) whether the Government  is considering  to develop waterways by dredging and restricting  the movement  of barges with dirty cargo such as coal, fly ash and iron ore that have many serious adverse ecological impacts and if so, the details  thereof,
- (d)  whether the Government is aware that the States' Ferries Acts govern cross ferry movement and this is creating a barrier to inland navigation,  as the regulations are not being taken into account for safety considerations; and
- (c)  whether the Government  has taken any measures to address  this concern and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (sHRr SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) To promote lnland water Transport (lwT) in the country, 111 waterways  (including  5 existing and  '106  new) have been declared  as National  Waterways  (NWs) under the National Wateniays Act, 2016 which came into effect from 12'h April, 2016. Based on the.o,utcome of techno-economic  feasibility and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of NWs, 25 NWs which have been found viable by lnland Waterways  Authority of lndia (lWAl) for cargo/ passenger movement  is at Annex-'|. Development activities have been initiated in the first 13 NWs out of the 25 viable NWs.
- (b) Rs. 96.00 crore has been sanctioned for development of the stretch between Vijayawada to Muktayala in Krishna River of NW-4 in Andhra Pradesh  for following works:-
- Establishment of four Floattng  Pontoons, (i)
- Dredging  as per requirement, (  ii)

- (iii) Land acquisition for construction  of 3 Nos. of fixed Ro-Ro terminals at Muktayala, Harichandrapuram and lbrahimpatnam.

During the last two years i.e. 2019-20 and 2O2O-21  , Rs. 18.87 crore and Rs. 7.66 crore respectively  has been allocated  to Andhra Pradesh.

- (c) Bulk cargo like coal, fly-ash and iron ore are found economical  & cost-effective for movement through lnland water Transport (lwr) which is environment friendly and less pollutant  mode of transport  than Rail & Road. The cargo through lnland waterways  is transported  in barges  and there is no direct contact of the cargo with water and therefore no adverse  ecological  impact.
- (d) & (e) Yes,  sir. operation of Ferries is a State subject. lnland waterways  Authority of lndia (lwAl) established through  lwAl Act, 1985 for the regulation and development  of National waterways  for purposes  of shipping and navigation  has notified (with the prior approval  of the Central Govt.) following regulations for safety  considerations-
- (i) Prevention  of Collision on National  Waterways  Regulations,  2002 and
- (ii)  National  waterway,  Safety  of Navigation and Shipping Regulations, 2002

Further  Government has enacted the lnland Vessels (1.v.) Act, 2021 replacing l.v. Act 1917 for uniformity of rules and regulation  for inland navigation in the country covering safety considerations.

Annex.-1 LIST OF 25 NATIONAL WATERWAYS  FOUND FEASIBLE FOR CARGO/ PASSENGER

## MOVEMENT

|   st. | National Waterway      | Details of Waterways                                                      | STATES                                        | Status                                                                       |
|-------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|     1 | National Watenruay 1   | Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia Allahabad)                  | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal | Development taken up with Assistance from World Bank Jal Marg Vikas Proiect  |
|     2 | National Wateruuay 2   | Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiva)                                       | Assam                                         | Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024- 25            |
|     3 | National Watenruay 16  | Barak River                                                               | Assam                                         | Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024- 25            |
|     4 | National Waterway 3    | West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udvoqmandal Canals | Kerala                                        | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|     5 | National Watenruay 4   | Krishna River (Vijayawada - Muktyala)                                     | Andhra Pradesh                                | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|     6 | National Waterway 5    | Dhamra-Paradio via Mangalagadi to Pankopal                                | Odisha                                        | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|     7 | National Watenruay I   | Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal                                            | Kerala                                        | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|     8 | National Waterway I    | Alappuzha-Kottayam Athirampuzha Canal                                     | Kerala Alternate route: 11 Skm                | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|     9 | National Watenruay 27  | Cumberjua River                                                           | Goa                                           | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|    10 | National Watenruay 68  | Mandovi River                                                             | Goa                                           | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|    11 | National Waterway 86   | Rupnarayan River                                                          | West Bengal                                   | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|    12 | National Waterway 97   | Sunderbans Waterway                                                       | West Bengal                                   | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|    13 | National Watenruay 111 | Zuari River                                                               | Goa                                           | Mostly Operational Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|    14 | National Wateruuay 10  | Amba River                                                                | Maharashtra                                   | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                 |
|    15 | National Waterway 40   | Ghagra River                                                              | Bihar                                         | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                 |
|    16 | National Waterway 44   | lchamati River                                                            | West Bengal                                   | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                 |
|    17 | NationalWateruay 52    | Kali River                                                                | Karnataka                                     | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                 |
|    18 | National Watenruay     | Kopili River                                                              | Assam                                         | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                 |

| sl. *:   | National Waterway      | Details of Waterways                     | STATES                | Status                                                                                                                       |
|----------|------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|          | 57                     |                                          |                       |                                                                                                                              |
| 19       | National Watenruay 25  | Chapora River                            | Goa                   |                                                                                                                              |
| 20       | National Watenruay 37  | Gandak River                             | Bihar                 |                                                                                                                              |
| 21       | National Watenaray 28  | Dabhol Creek Vasisti River               | Maharashtra           | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| 22       | National Watenrrray 73 | Narmada River                            | Maharashtra & Guiarat | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| 23       | National Watenruay 85  | Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System | Maharashtra           | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| 24       | National Watenruay 94  | Sone River                               | Bihar                 | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| 25       | National Watenruay 100 | Tapi River                               | Maharashtra & Guiarat | by lWAl as of now.                                                                                                           |