Lok Sabha Question No. 1004 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Opening of Waterways for Public
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Saikia Dilip

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1OO4

ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER,  2021

## OPENING  OF WATERWAYS  FOR PUBLIC

- 1004, SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

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

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- (u) the names of those waterways which are being considered to be opened  for public by the Government;
- (b) the actron plan formulated by the Government  to link Assam and North Eastern States through waterways; and
- (c) whether these schemes are being completed as per the fixed timeframe and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) To promote lnland Water Transport in the country 111 waterways (including 5 existing  and 106 new) have been declared as National  Waterways  (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 20.16 which came into effect from 12th April, 20.16. Based on the outcome of techno-economic  feasibility and Detailed Prolect Reports  (DPRs) of NWs, 25 NWs have been found viable by lnland waterways Authority  of lndia (lwAl) for cargo/ passenger movement. The list of the 25 NWs is at Annex-|. Developmental activities have been initiated  in 13 NWs.
- (b) & (c) Yes, Sir. With special  emphasis on North Eastern  States, lWAl has undertaken comprehensive development  of NW-2 (Brahmaputra River) and NW-16 (Barak River) and lndo Bangladesh Protocol Route at the cost of Rs. 461 crore and 145 crore respectively to establish  critical connectivity  along with infrastructure development in the North East Region which would boost economic development and trade in the region by connecttng hinterland. Details  is at Annex-ll.

ln addition, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways  has a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for development of inland water transport infrastructure in the North Eastern States under which 100% grants is provided  to North Eastern  States. Details of projects  sanctioned under CSS is at Annex-lll.

## Llsr oF 25 NATIONAL WATERWAYS  FOUND FEASTBLE FOR CARGO MOVEMENT  "i

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| SI. No.   | National Waterway No.   | Details of Waterways                                                      | STATES                                        | Status                                                                      |
|-----------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | National Waterway 1     | Ganga-Bhag irathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia - Allahabad)               | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal | Development taken up with Assistance from World Bank Jal Marg Vikas Project |
| 2         | NationalWatenr,uay 2    | Brahmaputra River (Dhubri Sadiya)                                         | Assam                                         | Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024-25            |
| 3         | National Waterway '16   | Barak River                                                               | Assam                                         | Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024-25            |
| 4         | NationalWaterway 3      | West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udvoqmandal Canals | Kerala                                        | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| q         | NationalWaterway 4      | Krishna River (Vijayawada - Muktyala)                                     | Andhra Pradesh                                | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 6         | NationalWaterway 5      | Dhamra-Paradio via Mangalagadi to Pankopal                                | Odisha                                        | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 7         | NationalWaterway B      | Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal                                            | Kerala                                        | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| B         | National Waterway 9     | Alappuzha-Kottayam Athirampuzha Canal                                     | Kerala Alternate route: 1'1.5km               | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| I         | National Waten,uay 27   | Cumberjua River                                                           | Goa                                           | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 10        | National Waterway 68    | Mandovi River                                                             | Goa                                           | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 11        | National Waterway B6    | Rupnarayan River                                                          | West Bengal                                   | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 12        | National Waterway 97    | Sunderbans Waterway                                                       | West Bengal                                   | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 13        | National Waterway 111   | Zuari River                                                               | Goa                                           | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 14        | National Wateruuay 't0  | Amba River                                                                | Maharashtra                                   | Watenruays and development and maintenance work taken up.                   |
| 15        | National Waterway 40    | Ghagra River                                                              | Bihar                                         | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                |
| 16        | National Watenruay 44   | lchamati River                                                            | West Bengal                                   | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                |
| 17        | National Waterway 52    | Kali River                                                                | Karnataka                                     | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                |
| 18        | National Waterway 57    | Kopili River                                                              | Assam                                         | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                |
| 19        | National Waterway 25    | Chapora Rrver                                                             | Goa                                           | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                |
| 20        | National Waterway 37    | Gandak River                                                              | Bihar                                         | Projects at appraisal stage.                                                |
| 21        | National Watenruay 28   | Dabhol Creek Vasisti River                                                | Maharashtra                                   | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth nnder respective        |
| 22        | National Watenauay 73   | Narmada River                                                             | rr,larraEirriia a Guiarat                     | Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth nnder respective        |
| 23        | National Watenruay B5   | Revadanda Creek - [g!q4ta Eiver System                                    | Maharashtra                                   | State maritime board No interventions are                                   |
| 24        | National Wateruuay 94   | Sone River '';'-                                                          | Bihar                                         | contemplated                                                                |
| 25        | trtitionat Waterway 100 | Tapi River                                                                | Maharashtra & Guiarat                         | by lWAl as of now.                                                          |

'

## Details of project of NER:

1. Development of NW-2 at has been undertaken by lWAl. m to 2.5 Least Available  Depth aids and terminals. a cost of Rs. 461 crore during 2020-21 lo 2024-25 The waterway is being maintained  with fairway of 1.5 (LAD) and 45 m width, with day and night navigation

A navigable  fairway of 4s-meter width and 2.5 meter Least Available Depth (LAD) from Dhubri to Dibrugarh (768 km) and 1.S-meter LAD from Dibrugarh  to Sadiya ('123 km) is operational for movement of cargo. lWAl is taking necessary action to maintarn NW-2. The development  of NW-2 enables  waterway  connectivity  of North East region with Kolkata/ Haldia ports via lndo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.

(i) There are 17 activities approved for NW-2. Out of these 17 activities, 03 are of permanent nature viz, (i) Construction of Jogighopa terminal,  (ii) Alternative Road to Pandu Port, and (iii) Ship repair facility at Pandu The remaining  '14  activities are of recurring nature viz., (i) Fairway  development  (ii) O&M of navigational  aids (iii) O&M of fixed & floating terminals (iv) O&M of vessels (v) Consultancy training (vi) Maintenance  of e-portal etc. These activities  are carried out on annual basis.

2. Development  of NW-16 and IBP route at a cost of Rs. 145 crore during 202021 lo 2024-25 has been undertaken by lWAl.

Declared as National Waterway-16  (NW-16)  Barak river connects Silchar, Karimganl and Badarpur in Cachar valley of Assam through road/ wateruay with Haldia and Kolkata ports through lndo-Bangladesh Protocol (lBP) Route. Development for fairway maintenance with Least Available Depth (LAD) along with navigation aid between Silchar to Bhanga commenced in November, 2017. Action for upgradation of Badarpur  and Karimganj  terminals including  customs and immigration  facility at Karimganj  terminal has been initiated.

(i) There are 10 activities  as approved for NW-16 & IBP route. Out of these 10 activities, 03 are of permanent nature viz, (i) Construction of Terminal at Sonamura on Gumti river, (ii) Construction  of terminal at Maia on Ganga river and (iii) Upgradation  of Badarpur  and Karimganj terminals. The remaining  07 activities are of recurring nature viz., (r) Fairway development (ii) O&M of navigational aids (iii) Consultancy  training (iv) cargo promotion,  and (v) amenities at Ports of Call etc. These activities are carried out on annual maintenance basis.

## 3. lndo-Bangladesh  Protocol (lBP) Route :

Dredging for the development  of fairway from Sirajganj to Daikhowa (175 km) and Ashuganj to Zakiganj  (295 km) on lndo-Bangladesh  Protocol  route has commenced  for providing  2.5 m depth & 30 m wide navigational  channel  as per Memorandum  of Understanding  (MoU) signed on 08th April, 2017 between Govt. of lndia and Bangladesh  for 07 years  at cost sharing of 80:20. The dredging has commenced  from March, 2019 in Ashugan.l-Zakiganl stretch and in April, 2019 in Sirajganj-Daikhowa  stretch to provide  seamless connectivity of NW-1 with NW 2 & NW-l6.

## Proiects sanctioned under Central Sector Scheme in NE States (T.  b"  irpl"*""t.

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|   sl. No. | State   | Name of Project                                                                                  | Project Cost (t in Cr.)   |
|-----------|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | Assam   | Construction of 15 Nos. (17 0m long) floating terminals at 15 Ghats on NW-2 (Assam)              | 6.07                      |
|         1 | Assam   | Construction of 15 Nos. of (17.0m long) floatrng termrnals at 15 Ghats on NW-16 (Assam)          | 637                       |
|         1 | Assam   | Construction of 25 Nos. (17 0m long) floating terminals at 25 Ghats on NW-2 (Assam)              | 10.97                     |
|         1 | Assam   | Construction of 16 Nos. (25.0 m long) floating terminals at 16 Ghats on NW-2 (Assam)             | 13.70                     |
|         2 | Manipur | Loktak lnland Water Transport Project-ll on Loktak Lake (Manipur)                                | 7.BB                      |
|         2 | Manipur | Loktak lnland Wateru,uays lmprovement Project for Loktak Lake (Manipur)                          | 25 58                     |
|         3 | Mizoram | Preparation of DPR for Tuichawang / Karnaphuli River (Mizoram)                                   | 0.57                      |
|         4 | Tripura | Setting up of linkage with Meghna river system in Bangladesh by developing Gumti River (Tripura) | 12.58                     |

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