Radhakrishnan list progress on projects
The Minister of State for Shipping and Finance Pon Radhakrishnan has updated parliament on National Waterways (NWs) projects.
He said that 111 inland waterways (including 5 existing) have been declared as (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016, with effect from 12 April 2016, after due consultations and recommendations of the State Governments.
He also told the house that the NW-1 (River Ganga), NW-2 (River Brahmaputra), NW-3 (West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals), NW-16 (River Barak), NW-27, 68 and 111 (in Goa), NW-9 (in Kerala) and NW-97 are operational.
He said that the Government is implementing the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) at a cost of Rs.5,369.18 crore for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia – Varanasi stretch of NW-1 (River Ganga) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank.
Based on the feasibility reports completed so far, the Inland Waterways Authority of India has found 36 NWs to be technically viable for development of shipping and navigation.
Development activities have been initiated on 8 NWs. These are:
River Barak (NW-16): Under Phase -1, thestretch between Silchar to Bhanga (71 km) has been taken up for development. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
River Gandak (NW-37): Bhaisalotan Barrage near TriveniGhat to confluence with Ganga river at Hajipur (296 km)in Bihar and UP.
Development works commenced from Ganga confluence to Bagaha Bridge (250 km approx.) stretch of NW-37 under Phase-1.
Waterways in Goa:
NW-27-Cumberjua – confluence with Zuari to confluence with Mandovi river (17 km).
NW 68 – Mandovi– Usgaon Bridge to Arabian Sea (41 km)
NW 111 – Zuari– Sanvordem Bridge to Marmugao Port (50 km).
Development works for expansion, setting up of floating jetties and upgradation, installation of navigational aids is underway.
NWs of Goa are operational.
Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal (NW-9): Boat Jetty, Alappuzha to Athirampuzha (38 km) in Kerala.
Development work in the Alappuzha – Kottayam stretchhas commenced under Phase-1 for cargo movement. Waterways are already operational for ferry services.
River Rupnarayan (NW-86): Confluence of Dwarkeshwar and Silai rivers (Pratappur) to confluence with Hooghly river (Geonkhali) (72 km) in West Bengal.
Approx. 34 kms between Geonkhali to Kolaghat stretch has been taken up for development under Phase-I.
Sunderbans Waterways (NW-97): Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal & 13 connected rivers (654 km) in West Bengal.
Phase-I development workof this waterway from Namkhana to Athara Banki Khal (172 km) has been taken up. Waterway is already operational under Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.
The remaining 28 are at Detailed Project Report state. fiinews.com
