Lok Sabha Question No. 3879 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Safety on Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3879

ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

## SAFETY ON WATERWAYS

3879. SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

- Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी (a)    whether  the  Government  identified  particular  waterways  which  are  important from the point of view of tourists and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has been able to maintain the safety standards at these waterways and if so, the details thereof; and (c)    whether the Government is inclined to having the safety matters of waterways
- looked after by reputed life saving organizations and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes,  Sir.  A  study  was  conducted  by  Inland  Waterways  Authority  of  India ( IWAI) in November 2022 for preparation of an Action Plan and Detailed Road Map for development of river cruise tourism in India, which also identified potential NWs for river cruise tourism. Details of potential NWs indentified for river cruise tourism is at Annexure-1 .
- (b) & (c)Government has notified on 07.06.2022 the safety rules viz. (i) The Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules (ii) The Inland Vessels (Life  Saving  Appliances)  Rules  (iii)  The  Inland  Vessels  (Fire  Fighting  Appliances) Rules under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021.The responsibility of the implementation of rules and regulations related to safety of inland vessels primarily rests with the State Governments. The responsibility of issue of Survey and Registration Certificates of inland vessels plying in rivers, lakes etc. also lie with the State Governments as per Inland Vessels Act, 2021.

Annexure - 1

| POTENTIAL NWs FOR RIVER CRUISE TOURISM   | POTENTIAL NWs FOR RIVER CRUISE TOURISM   | POTENTIAL NWs FOR RIVER CRUISE TOURISM                     | POTENTIAL NWs FOR RIVER CRUISE TOURISM   |
|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Waterways                                | Location                                 | Existing/ Potential                                        | Type of Cruise Potential                 |
| NW-1                                     | River Ganga                              | Already existing                                           | Multi-Day Cruise                         |
| NW-2                                     | River Brahmaputra                        | Already existing                                           | Multi-Day Cruise                         |
| NW-3                                     | West Coast Canal                         | Already existing - Houseboat                               | Multi-Day Cruise                         |
| NW-4 / NW-5                              | Andhra & Odisha Waterway                 | Potential, presently small boats/ launches are operational | Single Day / Night Cruise                |
| NW-8 / NW-9                              | Alappuzha                                | Already existing - Houseboat                               | Single Day / Night / Multi-Day Cruise    |
| NW-73                                    | River Narmada                            | Potential                                                  | Single Day / Night Cruise                |
| NW-100                                   | River Tapi                               | Potential                                                  | Single Day / Night Cruise                |
| NW-89                                    | River Savitri                            | Potential                                                  | Single Day / Night Cruise                |
| NW-97                                    | Sundarbans                               | Already existing                                           | Multi-Day Cruise                         |
| Goa Waterways (NW-68/ NW- 27)            | Goa                                      | Already existing                                           | Day/ Night Cruise                        |
| IBP                                      | Bangladesh- India Waterways              | Already existing                                           | Multi-Day Cruise                         |

*****