Lok Sabha Question No. 2261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Seaplane Service
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Faizal P.P. Mohammed

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2261

ANSWERED ON 1011212021

## SEAPLANE SERVICE

2261. SHRI MOHAMMED  FAIZAL P.P,:

will the Minister of PoRTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS  be pleased  to state: m.d-d-{, q}dqt{d-6-{  ofus-dcrf q*

- (a) whether the steps are being taken by the Government  to make seaplane service an 'economically viable' option for the common  people;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the Government  has conducted  any aerial biodiversity  in the lakes  which will facilitate study on the disruption  of aquatic and the service to the seaplanes, and
- (d) if so, the details and the findings thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways  (MoPSW) has signed an MoU withMinistryofCivilAviationfordevelopmentofNonscheduled/Scheduledoperationof Sea  plane  Services within  territorial  jurisdiction of lndia under  Regional Connectivity Scheme  (RCS)  -  UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme RCS  -  UDAN scheme was launched by Ministry of civil Aviation on 21-10-2016  to facilitate  / stimulate regional airconnectivityandmakeairtravelaffordabletothemasses.ltisademand.driven scheme,whereinairlineoperatorsassessthefeasibilityofoperationonaparticular routeandbidunderthescheme.Tilldate,28seaplaneroutesconnecting14water aerodromes  have been awarded  under RCS UDAN As per the scheme' in addition to ViabilityGapFunding'CentralGovernment,StateGovernmentsandAirportoperators provide  concessions to the Selected Airline Operators  (SAOs)  which include  -
1. Central Government:
- (i) Excise Duty at the rale ol 2ok on Aviation  Turbine Fuel (ATF) for SAOs at RCS AirportsforRCsFlightsforaperiodofthreeyearsfromthedateofnotificationof this Scheme.
- (ii) Freedom  to enter into code sharing arrangements with domestic as well as lnternational  Airlines pursuant  to applicable  regulations  and prevailing  air service agreements.
2. state Governments  at RCS Airports within their states:
- (i) Reduction  of varue Added rax to 1o/o or ress on ATF within the state for a period  of ten years  from the date UDAN at RCS Airports located of notification  of RCS  -
- (ii)  Provision  of security and fire services free of cost at RCS Airports.
3. Airport Operators:
- (i) Airport operators  do not levy Landing charges  and  parking  charges
- (ii)  SAos are allowed  to undertake ground handling for their RCS Flights  at all airports.
- (iii) Airports  Authority  of lndia does not levy any Terminal  Navigation Landing Charges on RCS Flights.
- (iv)Route  Navigation  and Facilitation  charges  are levied by Aal on a discounted  basis @ 42.50% of Normat Rates on RCS Ftights.

(c) & (d) so far no study on the disruption  of aquatic  and aerial biodiversity  in the lakes  has been conducted  by Ministry  of  ports,  shipping  & waterways (Mopsw). However' MoPSW has mandated  syama Prasad Mookherjee  port,  Kolkata to act as nodal agency for conducting  Bathymetric  survey,  obstruction  Limitation  surface (oLS) survey and preparation  of Detailed Project Report (DpR)  for construction  of water aerodrome  for sea plane operations.