iksr ifjogu ea=kh
(a) whether the Government propose to extend tax benefits to Inland Water Transport by
another three years;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government have evaluated the impact made by tax exemption during the last
15 years in the development of Inland Water Transport;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the measures taken by the IWAI for creation of waterways and infrastructure facilities?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING
( SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a)to (d) There is no proposal to extend tax benefits to Inland Water Transport.
However,
IWT has since been declared as infrastructure under Income Tax Act and tax benefits under
Section 80 IA are available for this sector w.e.f. April, 1999.
(e) Besides, three waterways namely the Ganga from Haldia to Allahabad (1620 Km),
the Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri (891 Km) and West Coast Canal, including Champakara
and Udyogamandal canals (205 km) that have already been declared as National Waterways,
hydrographic survey and techno-economic feasibility studies have been conducted on some
other waterways, such as DVC Canal, Barak river, East Coast Canal integrated with Godavari
and Krishna river system etc. Their declaration as National Waterways and subsequent
development will depend on availability of resources. The development of National Waterways
is a continuous process and carried out by Inland Waterways Authority of India through various
plan schemes meant for providing infrastructural facilities such as navigational channel,
terminals and navigational aids etc.