Lok Sabha Question No. 2026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Environmental Clearance of Inland Waterway Projects
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky, Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2026

ANSWERED ON - 02/08/2024

## ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE OF INLAND WATERWAY PROJECTS

2026.   DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY:

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

पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a)  whether  the  increase  in  intensity  of  inland  waterways  is  likely  to  lead  to  environmental hazards; (b) if so, whether the Government has identified such routes across India for mitigation; (c)  if  not,  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  include  inland  waterways  in  the project lists which requires environmental clearances; (d) if so, the tentative timeline therefor; (e)  whether  the  Government  is  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  not  including  inland  waterways project in the list of projects for environmental clearance would have long term impact on the environment; and
- (f) if so, the details of the steps taken thereon so far?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Increase in intensity of inland waterways is likely to reduce environmental pollution/hazards since Inland Water Transport (IWT) is cost-effective as well as environmental-friendly mode of transport. The Socio-economic and environmental benefits of IWT Mode are detailed at Annexure-1.
- (b)  Does not arise.

(c)  &  (d) The  project  or  activity  mentioned  in  the  schedule  of  EIA  Notification  2006,  as amended, does not include the projects or activity related to Inland Waterways. Therefore, projects  or  activity  related  to  Inland  Waterways  does  not  attract  the  provisions  of  EIA Notification, 2006, as amended. Hence, there is no proposal to include inland waterways in the project lists which requires environmental clearances.

(e) Development of IWT has least carbon footprint on environment in comparison to existing mode  of  Road  &  Rail  Transport  and  hence  would  not  have  long  term  impact  on  the environment.

(f)  Does not arise.

## Annexure-1

## The Socio-economic and environmental benefits of IWT Mode:

## 1. Cheaper operating cost and relatively lesser fuel consumption

| Factors considered     | Rates Considered   | Rates Considered   | Rates Considered   | Source                                            |
|------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Factors considered     | Waterways          | Road               | Rail               |                                                   |
| Energy Consumption     | 0.0048 Litre/TKm   | 0.0313 Litre/TKm   | 0.0089 Litre/TKm   | 11 th Plan Working Group Report on Shipping & IWT |
| Vehicle Operating Cost | 0.843 Rs./TKm      | 1.170 Rs./TKm      | 1.009 Rs./TKm      | Planning Commission : TTS Study                   |

## 2. Less polluting mode of transportation

| Factors considered       | External cost of pollution (Rs./TKm)   | External cost of pollution (Rs./TKm)   | External cost of pollution (Rs./TKm)   | Source                                                               |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                          | Waterways                              | Road                                   | Rail                                   |                                                                      |
| Air Pollution            | 0.03                                   | 0.202                                  | 0.0366                                 | Planning Commission : TTS Study                                      |
| Noise Pollution          | Negligible                             | 0.0032                                 | 0.0012                                 | Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC) |
| Soil and Water Pollution | Negligible                             | 0.005                                  | Negligible                             | PIANC                                                                |

## 3. Relatively safer mode of transportation

| Factor     | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Source                         |
|------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------------------|
| considered | Waterways       | Road            | Rail            |                                |
| Accidents  | Negligible      | 0.0620          | 0.0010          | Planning Commission: TTS Study |

## 4. Lesser requirement of land relative to other modes of transportation

| Factor considered   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Source   |
|---------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------|
|                     | Waterways       | Road            | Rail            |          |
| Surface occupation  | Negligible      | 0.0002          | 0.0001          | PIANC    |

## 5. More environment friendly mode of transportation

| Factor           | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Cost (Rs/TKm)   | Source               |
|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|
| considered       | Waterways       | Road            | Rail            |                      |
| Emission of GHGs | 0.0006          | 0.0031          | 0.0006          | 12 th Five Year Plan |