Jalvahak Scheme | 18 Dec 2024

Source: PIB

Recently, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched the 'Jalvahak' scheme to promote inland waterways and cargo movement.

Objective: It aims to unlock the trade potential of inland waterways, reduce logistics costs, and alleviate congestion in road and rail networks.
- It incentivises long-haul cargo movement on National Waterways (NW) 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra), and 16 (Barak).
Incentives:
- Provides reimbursements up to 35% of operating expenses for cargo movement on NW 1, 2 and 16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
- It encourages hiring of vessels owned by private operators, promoting competition and efficiency.
Economic and Environmental Impact:
- It aims to shift 800 million tonne-kilometres of cargo by 2027.
- The target is to increase cargo movement via waterways from 132.89 million tonnes (2023-24) to 200 million tonnes by 2030, and 500 million tonnes by 2047, supporting the Blue Economy and Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):
- It was established in 1986 to regulate and develop inland waterways.
- India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, including rivers, canals, and backwaters.
- Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 waterways (5 existing and 106 new) have been declared as NWs.