Inland waterways to be declared as National Waterways

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the enactment of Central legislation for declaring 101 additional Inland Waterways as National Waterways (NW) for navigation.

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This move will create a logistic supply chain with intermodal (Rail, Road and Waterways) connectivity. It would also positively contribute to the GDP by opening up business opportunities in the area of dredging, barge construction, barge operation, barge repair facilities, terminal construction, terminal operation, storage facilities, providing modern aids to day and night navigation, tourist cruise, consultancy, training of manpower for manning barges, hydrographic survey, etc.

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Investments in all these business areas will create numerous opportunities for employment and economic development and reduce pressure from the already over-loaded, congested and costlier other surface modes of transport.

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Detailed business development studies are being carried out under the Jal Marg Vikas Project for identifying all business opportunities and quantifying anticipated investments and employment opportunities.

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The Centre has undertaken a policy for integrated development of inland waterways for navigation purposes. According to the existing provisions, the Government can undertake development of an inland waterway for navigation only when it is declared as a National Waterway by an Act of Parliament in line with Entry No. 24 in List I of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution.

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Keeping in view the urgent need for a supplementary/alternate mode of transport on waterways, such a long waiting period needs to be curtailed. One way of reducing this time period is to declare all the identified waterways as national waterways through a single legislation and enable the Government to undertake development as and when the need arises and preparatory work and funding tie up is complete.