(a) the number of inland waterways developed and proposed to be developed during next three years, State/ UT-wise;
(b) the details of the funds allocated/ utilised for development of inland waterways during last the five years, year and State/ UT-wise; and
(c) whether the Dhubri river port is in the list of, to be developed ports and if so, the present condition/ status thereof?
(a) & (b) The details of projects initiated on National Waterways (NWs) by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in various States are as under :
(i) NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Allahabad to Haldia) in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal; NW-2 (River Brahmaputra from Dhubri to Sadiya) in Assam; NW-3 (West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals) in Kerala, have already been developed with fairway, navigational aids, jetties and terminals with mechanized equipment handling facilities for loading and unloading of cargo. These NWs are operational and vessels are plying on them. In addition, NW-10 (river Amba) in Maharashtra, NW-68 (river Mandovi) in Goa, NW-73 (river Narmada) in Gujarat, NW-83 (Rajpuri Creek) in Maharashtra, NW-85 (Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System) in Maharashra, NW-91 (Shastri river-Jaigad creek system) in Maharashtra, NW-97 (Sunderbans Waterways) in West Bengal, NW-100 (river Tapi) in Gujarat & Maharashtra and NW-111 (river Zuari) in Goa are also operational.
(ii) IWAI is implementing the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) at an estimated cost of Rs.5369.18 crore for capacity augmentation of navigation on NW-1 on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank.
Under JMVP projects worth Rs.1800 crore (approx.) have commenced on ground in a time period of three years after statutory clearances.
(iii) Fairway development works in Vijayawada-Muktyala stretch of river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh (Part of NW-4) have been completed. Fabrication of four floating pontoons and land acquisition for fixed terminals (4 nos.) at Ibrahimpatnam, Harischandrapuram, Muktyala and Madipadu has been taken up.
(iv) Details of activities initiated on 8 viable new NWs State-wise, are given at Annex.
The details of Budget Estimate, Revised Estimate and Expenditure on development of NWs during the last 5 years are as under:
(Rs. in crore)
<pre>
Year Budget Estimate Revised Estimate Exp.
2015-16 323.19 (Grants) 321.91 (Grants) 321.91 (Grants)
2016-17 391.01 (Grants)
+
340.00 EBRs
362.31 (Grants)
+
340.00 EBRs 358.41 (Grants)
+
237.32 (EBR)
2017-18 270.00 (Grants)
+
660.00 EBRs
426.0914 (Grants)
+
660.00 EBRs 426.0914 (Grants)
+
335.2686 (EBR)
2018-19 480.00 (Grants)
862.49 (Grants) 862.49 (Grants)
+
111.94 (EBR)
2019-20 750.36 (Grants) 526.80 (Grants) 637.78 (up to 29.02.2020)
</pre>
Note:- Funds available from EBRs are being utilized for projects for capital expenditure in F.Y. 2016-17 to 2019-20
(c) An Inland Water Transport (IWT) cum Ro-Ro terminal at Dhubri (Assam) on the north bank of NW-2 (river Brahmaputra) has been constructed by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in 2017 at a cost of Rs. 48.41 crore and the terminal is operational at present.
Annex.
List of 8 new National Waterways on which development activities have been initiated.
<pre>
Name of the Waterway and States Status
1.River Barak (NW-16) in Assam Development at a cost of Rs.76.01 crore for Phase-1 of NW-16 from Silchar to Bhanga has commenced. This includes maintenance dredging, upgradation of terminals at Badarpur and Karimganj. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
2. River Gandak (NW-37) in Bihar Initial development process has been completed as per requirement. Further development process will be synchronized with cargo demand.
Waterways in Goa
3. NW-27-Cumberjua
4. NW-68 – Mandovi
5. NW-111 – Zuari A Tripartite MoU has been signed with Government of Goa and Mormugao Port Trust for development of NWs in Goa. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of Rs.22.65 crore has commenced. NWs of Goa are operational.
Installation of 3 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.11.33 crore on river Mandovi and one no. on river Chapora on EPC basis has been taken up.
6. Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal (NW-9) in Kerala Waterway is already operational for ferry services. Maintenance scheme for development at a cost of Rs.0.82 crore was approved in May, 2019 for execution during 2019-20. Night navigation facilities have been installed.
7. River Rupnarayan (NW-86) in West Bengal Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.00 crore has commenced. Work has been awarded for setting up of floating terminal. Waterway is operational.
8. Sunderbans Waterways (NW-97) in West Bengal Development of waterway at an estimated cost of Rs.18.10 crore has commenced. Upgradation of infrastructure at Hemnagar has been taken up to handle Cargo/ Passenger or Customs/ Immigration requirements. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels.
</pre>
*****