The Hindu : International : Three national waterways proposed, says Baalu

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Thursday, Jul 14, 2005

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International

Three national waterways proposed, says Baalu

Special Correspondent

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu covered under one scheme

NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu on Wednesday said the government had initiated steps for declaration of three new national waterways, namely Kakinada-Pondicherry canal integrated with the Godavari and Krishna rivers, the Barak river and the East Coast canal integrated with the Brahmani river.

The first of the proposed national waterways passes through Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The second is entirely in Assam but is connected with the Haldia and Kolkata ports through waterways in Bangladesh. The third is in Orissa and West Bengal. The Minister was speaking at the fifth meeting of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to his Ministry here.

The Minister informed the members that because of its cost effectiveness and environment friendly nature, inland water transport had been identified as a thrust area by the Government, whereby the share of inland water transport was targeted to be increased from the below one per cent at present to at least two per cent in the next 10 years. With the declaration of three new national waterways, a length of 1,858 km would be added to the existing national network. This includes (i) the Ganga between Allahabad and Haldia (NW 1- a length of 1620 km), (ii) the Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of the river Brahmputra (NW 2- a length of 891 km) and (iii) the Kollam-Kottapuram stretch of the West Coast Canal along with the Champakara and the Udyogmandal Canals (NW 3 - a length of 205 km).

The budgetary allocation had increased from about Rs. 150 crores in the Ninth Plan for development and maintenance of infrastructure to Rs. 636.73 crores in the 10th Plan for inland water transport infrastructure development. The government hopes to make the three existing national waterways fully operational by the end of the Tenth Plan and initiate development works on the proposed ones from the next year onwards.

The Central Government provides 100 per cent financial support by way of grant in the Northeastern States and 90 per cent in other States under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for development of waterways and other national waterways.

In 2003-04, the Ministry sanctioned 15 projects in six States costing about Rs. 50 crores, and an initial release of Rs. 9.85 crores was made. In 2004-05, seven projects at a cost of Rs. 23 crores were sanctioned and funds to the tune of Rs. 16 crores released to the States.

For increasing the number of inland water transport vessels, acquisition of vessels by operators was being encouraged through a subsidy scheme.

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