Lok Sabha Question No. 3667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Dredging in National Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Appalanaidu Kalisetti

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3667

ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## DREDGING IN NATIONAL WATERWAYS

## 3667.  SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  total  dredging  requirement  for maintaining  navigability  in  the  country's  National  Waterways  (NWs),  if  so,  the details thereof, including estimated annual dredging volume and cost, waterwaywise;
- (b) dredging  capacity  available  with  the  Inland  Waterways  Authority  of  India  and other  agencies,  including  the  number  of  dredgers  owned,  leased  and  in operation;
- (c) the  details  of  dredging  projects  undertaken  in  the  last  five  years,  including capital and maintenance dredging, expenditure incurred and status of completion, waterway-wise;
- (d) funds allocated, released and utilized for dredging under various schemes like Jal Marg Vikas Project and Sagarmala, year-wise and waterway-wise;
- (e) the challenges faced in dredging operations, including siltation levels, environmental concerns and delays due to land acquisition or approvals;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  engaged  private  sector  participation  or  PPP models for dredging, if so, the details thereof; and?
- (g) the measures taken to enhance dredging efficiency, including modernization of equipment, new dredging technologies and any proposed policy reforms?:

## ANSWER

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

(a) As per Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Act, 1985, IWAI is mandated for  regulation  and  development  of  shipping  and  navigation  in  National  Waterways (NWs). Siltation affects navigability of the channel. The navigation channel of 35 to 45 m width for a depth of 2 to 3m is monitored by IWAI in designated operational NWs. Wherever the navigation depth is recorded less, river training measures like bandalling (bottom paneling on mobile beds of the river) and maintenance dredging are taken up in limited shoal length for improving the navigation depth.

- (b) 18  Cutter  Suction  Dredgers  (CSDs)  with  350  to  500  Cubic  meter  (cum)  rated capacity of  each  CSD and  2  Hydraulic Surface  Dredger (HSD)  with  260 BHP  and  3 Amphibian  dredgers  with  rated  capacity  of  120  cum  are  with  IWAI.  IWAI  does  not maintain data regarding availability of dredgers with other agencies.
- (c) & (d) No Capital dredging has been undertaken by IWAI in the last five years and  only  maintenance  dredging  has  been  undertaken.  Rs  1312.79  Cr  has  been allocated for fairway maintenance under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on NW-1. The details of maintenance dredging projects undertaken and expenditure incurred on NW1 (Ganga River), NW-2 (the Brahmaputra) in NER and NW-3 (West Coast Canal) in last five years are given in Annexure.
- (e) The  major  challenges  faced  during  dredging  are  Heavy  Siltation  in  NWs  and equipment limitations - Limited dredgers available in market with low draft for working in rivers.
- (f) IWAI has not undertaken dredging work on PPP model.
- (g) The measures taken to enhance dredging efficiency are-
- i. Continuous efforts are made to decrease the dredging quantity by river training measures viz bandalling and channel stabilization works.
- ii. Selection  of  appropriate  dredger  -  Using  the  right  dredging  method  based  on sediment type and river conditions
- iii. Monitoring Real-Time Data - Using digital monitoring to track sediment removal, depth, and equipment performance.
- iv. Regular Equipment Inspections - Proactive maintenance to prevent equipment breakdowns and reduce downtime.
- v. Procurement  of  dredgers  with  different  capacity  and  type  having  greater efficiency.

## ANNEXURE

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (c)  &  (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred Question No. 3667 for reply on 21.03.2025:

## 1. National Waterway-1 (the Ganga):

| Stretches                                | Expenditure incurred (in Rs. Crores)   | Status                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Farakka - Kahalgaon (2018- 2023)         | 212.02 (incl. GST)                     | Completed                                                                         |
| Sultanganj - Mahendarpur (2019- 2024)    | 211.10 (incl. GST)                     | Completed                                                                         |
| Mahendarpur - Barh (2019-2024)           | 227.64 (incl. GST)                     | Completed                                                                         |
| Tribeni - Katwa (2024- 2027)             | 8.39 (incl. GST)                       | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Katwa - Farakka (2024- 2027)             | 11.90 (incl. GST)                      | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Farakka - Kahalgaon (2024 - 2027)        | 27.88 (incl. GST)                      | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Sultanganj - Barh (2024- 2027)           | 17.74 (incl. GST)                      | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Barh - Digha (2024- 2027)                | 7.31 (incl. GST)                       | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Digha - Majhaua (2024- 2027)             | 9.50 (incl. GST)                       | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Majhaua - Ghazipur (2024-2027)           | 7.86 (incl. GST)                       | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Access Channel of Kalughat (2024 - 2025) | 0.96 (incl. GST)                       | Ongoing                                                                           |
| Ghazipur - Varanasi (2025 - 2028)        | -                                      | Mobilization initiated                                                            |
| Haldia Access Channel                    | 25.22 (incl. GST)                      | 50% cost of 1 st year dredging work and Administrative charge transferred to SMPK |

2. National Waterway (NW)- 2(the Brahmaputra):
2. 3.National Waterway (NW)- 3(the West Coast Canal):

| Name of Project                          |   Expenditure incurred (in Rs. Crores) | Status                                           |
|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Maintenance dredging in NW-2 (2019-2024) |                                  37.19 | Departmental dredgers are utilized on need basis |

| Name of Project                          |   Expenditure incurred (in Rs. Crores) | Status                                           |
|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Maintenance dredging in NW-3 (2019-2024) |                                   2.09 | Departmental dredgers are utilized on need basis |

*****