Lok Sabha Question No. 1133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Development of National Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED OUESTION NO. 1133

ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2021

## DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL WATERWAYS

## 1133, SHRI JAYADEV GALLA,

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

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- (a) the details of the work in progress on the 37  prioritised national wateMays in the country,  particularly in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the details  of amount allocated  to Andhra Pradesh for the development  of prioritised wateMays  during the last two years;
- (c) whether the Government  has considered.that  developing waterways  by dredging  and the movement  of barges with dirty cargo such as coal, fly ash and iron ore has many serious adverse ecological impacts  and if so, the details  thereof,  and
- (d) whether the Government is aware that the States' Ferries Acts from various years govern cross ferry movement  and this may present  a barrier to inland navigation, as the regulations may not take into account safety considerations and if so, the response of the Government  thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING & WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA  SONOWAL)

- (a) To promote lnland water Transport in the country  '1  11 waterways (including 5 existing and 106 new) have been declared as National  waterways  (NWs) under the National waterways Act, 2016 which came into effect from 12th April, 2016. Based on the outcome of techno-economic  feasibility and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of NWs, 25 NWs have been found viable by lnland waierways Authority of lndia (lwAl) for cargo/ passenger movement. The list of the 25 NWs is at Annex-l. Developmental activities have been initiated in 13 NWs.

- (b) Rs. 96.00 crore between  Vijayawada to for following  works: has been sanctioned for development of the stretch Muktayala in Krishna River of NW-4 in Andhra Pradesh
- (a) Establishment  of four Floating Pontoons,
- (b) Dredging as per requirement
- (c) Land acquisition for construction of 3 Nos. of fixed Ro-Ro terminals at Muktyala,  Harichandrapuram  and lbrahimpatnam.

Dtrring the last two years I e ?O19-?O and2.OZO-21 Rs. 1B 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  & cosleffective for movement through lnland Water Transport (lWT) which is environment friendly and less pollutant  mode of transport  than Rail & Road. The cargo through lnland ship is transported in barges and there is no direct contact of the cargo with water and therefore no ecological impacts.
- (d) Yes sir, operation of Ferries is a state subject. lnland wateruuays  Authority  of lndia (lwAl) established  through  lwAl Act, 1985 for the regulation  and development  of National watenrvays 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,  2O0Z and
- (ii) National  waterway,  Safety  of Navigation  and Shipping Regulations,  2002

Further covernment has enacted the lnland Vcsscls (1.v.) Act, 2021 replacing lV. Act 1917 for uniformity  of rules and regulation for inland navigation in the country covering satety considerattons.

## LIST OF 25 NATIONAL WATERWAYS  FOUND FEASIBLE  FOR CARGO MOVEMENT

| st.   | National Waterway No.   | Details of WaterwaYs                                                      | STATES                                        | Status                                                               |
|-------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       | National Wateruray 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  |
| 2     | National Waterway 2     | Brahmaputra River Dhubri - Sadiya                                         | Assam                                         | Development taken up as Per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024- 25    |
| J     | National WateruuaY 16   | Barak River                                                               | Assam                                         | Development taken up as Per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024- 25    |
| 4     | National WatenruaY 3    | West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udvoqmandal Canals | Kerala                                        | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 5     | National WatenruaY 4    | Krishna River (VijaYawada - Muktyala)                                     | Andhra Pradesh                                | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| o     | National WaterwaY 5     | Dhamra-Paradio via Mangalagadi to PankoPal                                | Odisha                                        | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 7     | National Watenvay B     | Alappuzha- Chanqanassery Canal                                            | Kerala                                        | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 8     | National WateruuaY o    | Alappuzha-KottaYam Athirampuzha Canal                                     | Kerala Alternate route: 11.5km                | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| I     | National WaterwaY 27    | Cumberjua River                                                           | Goa                                           | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 10    | National WateruuaY 6B   | Mandovi River                                                             |                                               | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 11    | National WaterwaY B6    | Rupnarayan River                                                          | West Bengal                                   | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 12    | National WaterwaY 97    | Sunderbans WaterwaY                                                       | West Bengal                                   | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 13    | National WateruuaY 111  | Zuari River                                                               | Goa                                           | Operational Watenvays and development and maintenance work taken up. |
| 14    | nf atronat WaterwaV     | Amba River                                                                | Maharashtra                                   | Projects at apPrai stage                                             |
| 15    | National Watenvay 40    | Ghagra River                                                              | Bihar                                         | Projects at apPrai stage                                             |
| 16    | National WaterwaY 44    | lchamati River                                                            | West Bengal                                   | Projects at apPrai stage                                             |
| 17    | National WaterwaY 52    | Kali River                                                                | Karnataka                                     | Projects at apPrai stage                                             |

q.

| st.   | National Waterway No.   | Details of Waterways                     | STATES                          | Status                                                                                                                       |
|-------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1B    | National Watenruay 57   | Kopili River                             | Assam                           |                                                                                                                              |
| 19    | National Watenruay 25   | Chapora River                            | Goa                             |                                                                                                                              |
| 20    | National Waterway 37    | Gandak River                             | Bihar                           |                                                                                                                              |
| 21    | National Watenruay 28   | Dabhol Creek Vasisti River               | Maharashtra Maharashtra Gujarat | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| 22    | National Waterway 73    | Narmada River                            | &                               | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| Z5    | National Waten,uay B5   | 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 Waterurray 94  | Sone River                               | Bilrar'                         | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated |
| 25    | National Waterway 100   | Tapi River                               | Maharashtra & Gujarat           | by lWAl as of now.                                                                                                           |