MINISTER OF SHIPPING (SHRI G.K. VASAN)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 103 TO BE
ANSWERED ON 2ND AUGUST, 2010 RAISED BY SHRI HUKUMDEV NARAYAN YADAV REGARDING INTER-STATE WATER
TRANSPORT
(a) & (b): Union Government through Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) develops
inland water transport infrastructure namely navigation channels, navigation aids and
terminals on waterways declared as National Waterways (NWs) by Acts of Parliament. With this
infrastructure in place, a National Waterway provides seamless inter-state water transport if
it passes through more than one State. So far, five waterways have been declared as National
Waterway.
There is also a route connecting West Bengal and Assam through Bangladesh under Indo-Bangladesh
Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade for transportation of goods.
(c) & (d): Yes Madam. Three Joint Venture Companies were incorporated by IWAI in 2008-09
for construction of inland vessels and operation thereof on NW-1 & 2.
A MoU with NTPC Ltd. has been signed for transportation of 2-3 million tonnes of imported Coal
from Haldia to NTPC Power Plant at Farakka and Kahalgaon through IWT mode. Action has also been
initiated for setting up a Coal handling terminal at Jogighopa on NW-2 in PPP mode.
Under Inland Vessels Building Subsidy Scheme which was in operation upto 31.3.2007, 30%
subsidy was given for the construction of inland vessels for plying in national waterways.
(e): Development of National Waterways - 4 & 5 will provide interstate connectivity
between Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and between West Bengal and Orissa
respectively. The National Waterway - 5 will also connect National Waterway - 1. The
development of these National Waterways will be undertaken by IWAI with private participation wherever feasible.
