WATERWAYS IN INDIA
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Context
- To promote inland water transport (IWT) in the country, 111 inland waterways spread over 24 states have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) under National Waterway Act, 2016.
- Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of these NWs, action plan has been formulated by IWAI for 26 NWs found viable for cargo/passenger movement.
About National Waterways:
- India has a vast network of inland waterways that include river bodies, canals, backwaters and creeks.
- However, these inland waterways have been unutilised, as compared to other countries in the world.
- The National Waterways Act proposed 106 additional national waterways to the five national waterways declared earlier.
- The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the timely execution of national waterways projects and to ensure improved water transportation in India.
- Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 inland waterways (including five national waterways in India declared earlier) have been declared as ‘national waterways’.
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The longest national waterway is the National Waterway 1 or the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, running from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal and covers a length of 1,620 kilometres. The first national waterways in India or the National Waterway 1 is the Ganga-Bhagirathi – Hooghly River System from Haldia to Allahabad. The Manimutharu River in Tamil Nadu or the National Waterway 69 is the shortest national waterway in India. |
LIST OF 26 NATIONAL WATERWAYS FOUND FEASIBLE FOR CARGO / PASSENGER MOVEMENT
|
National Waterway |
Details of Waterways |
STATES |
|
National Waterway 1 |
Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia - Allahabad) |
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal |
|
National Waterway 2 |
Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiya) |
Assam |
|
National Waterway 16 |
Barak River |
Assam |
|
National Waterway 3 |
West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals |
Kerala |
|
National Waterway 4 |
Krishna River (Vijayawada – Muktyala) |
Andhra Pradesh |
|
National Waterway 5 |
Dhamra-Paradio via Mangalagadi to Pankopal |
Odisha |
|
National Waterway 8 |
Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal |
Kerala |
|
National Waterway 9 |
Alappuzha - Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal |
Kerala (Alternate route: 11.5km) |
|
National Waterway 27 |
Cumberjua River |
Goa |
|
National Waterway 68 |
Mandovi River |
Goa |
|
National Waterway 86 |
Rupnarayan River |
West Bengal |
|
National Waterway 97 |
Sunderbans Waterway |
West Bengal |
|
National Waterway 111 |
Zuari River |
Goa |
|
National Waterway 10 |
Amba River |
Maharashtra |
|
National Waterway 40 |
Ghagra River |
Bihar |
|
National Waterway 44 |
Ichamati River |
West Bengal |
|
National Waterway 52 |
Kali River |
Karnataka |
|
National Waterway 57 |
Kopili River |
Assam |
|
National Waterway 25 |
Chapora River |
Goa |
|
National Waterway 37 |
Gandak River |
Bihar |
|
National Waterway 28 |
Dabhol Creek Vasisti River |
Maharashtra |
|
National Waterway 73 |
Narmada River |
Maharashtra & Gujarat |
|
National Waterway 85 |
Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System |
Maharashtra |
|
National Waterway 94 |
Sone River |
Bihar |
|
National Waterway 100 |
Tapi River |
Maharashtra & Gujarat |
|
National Waterway 31 |
Dhansiri River |
Assam |
About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
- The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
- Launched in October 1986, the Noida-headquartered Authorityhas regional offices across different cities.
- It mainly undertakes projects for develqoping and maintaining the Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways through grants from the Shipping Ministry.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1847361
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