Sambhav-2024

• Give a brief introduction about Inland Waterways in India.
• Describe the scope and challenges of Inland Waterways in India.
• Explain the recent government initiatives that contributed to the growth and efficiency of inland water transport in the country.
• Conclude Suitably.

Introduction:

Inland water transport refers to the transportation of people, goods, and materials via waterways such as rivers, canals, lakes, and other navigable bodies of water that are located within a country's boundaries. The total length of NWs is 20,275 km spread across 24 States in the country.

Body

Scope of Inland Waterways in India:

• Most Economical Mode of Transportation: IWT is the most economical mode of transportation, especially for bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, cement, food grains and fertilizer. Presently, it remains underutilized at a share of 2% in India’s modal mix.
• Vast Network Potential: India possesses an extensive network of rivers, canals, and lakes, offering significant potential for inland water transport (IWT).
  • The National Waterways Act, 2016 has declared 111 inland waterways as ‘National Waterways’ (NWs) in the country to promote shipping and navigation on them.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Inland waterways offer a greener alternative to road and rail transport, emitting fewer greenhouse gases per ton-km of cargo transported.
  • Utilizing water transport can help reduce congestion on roads and railways, thereby easing the burden on transportation infrastructure.
• Economic Development Opportunities:.Improved connectivity through water transport can spur economic activities, generate employment, and boost regional development.
  • Priority development of National Waterway-1 was undertaken through the Jal Vikas Marg Project (JVMP), which includes Arth Ganga, and they will give an economic boost of Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years.

Challenges of Inland Waterways in India:

• No Navigability throughout the Year: Some rivers are seasonal and do not offer navigability through the year. Around 20 out of the 111 identified national waterways have reportedly been found unviable.
• Intensive Capital and Maintenance Dredging: All the identified waterways require intensive capital and maintenance dredging, which could be resisted by the local community on environmental grounds, including displacement fears, thereby posing implementation challenges.
• Regulatory Framework: Lack of uniformity in regulations across states and jurisdictions creates logistical hurdles and delays for operators.
• Market Competitiveness: Inefficiencies in cargo handling and last-mile connectivity reduce the competitiveness of inland water transport compared to road and rail alternatives.

Recent Government Initiatives and Contributions to Growth:

• Jal Marg Vikas Project: In 2018, IWAI signed a project agreement with the World Bank for the Jal Marg Vikas Project on River Ganga which aims for capacity augmentation of navigation on NW-1 (River Ganga) from Varanasi to Haldia.
• Forum of Cargo Owners and Logistics Operators (FOCAL) : In 2018, the IWAI also launched a portal known as Forum of Cargo Owners and Logistics Operators (FOCAL) for cargo owners and logistic operators to access real time data on availability of vessels.
• Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for development of inland waterways in North Eastern States: 100 % grant is provided to North Eastern States for development of Inland Water Transport North Eastern States.
• Maritime India Vision (MIV)-2030: The government intends to increase the share of IWT to 5% as per MIV-2030.
• Upcoming Initiatives :
  • Maritime Development Fund: A Rs. 25,000-crore fund, which will provide low cost, long-tenure financing to the sector with the Centre contributing Rs. 2,500 crores over seven years.
  • Port Regulatory Authority: A pan-India port authority will be set up under the new Indian Ports Act (to replace the old Indian Ports Act 1908) to enable oversight across major and non-major ports.
  • Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid project: It will aim to develop regional connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
  • Riverine Development Fund: Calls for extending low cost, long-term financing for inland vessels.

Conclusion:

Inland waterways represent a promising avenue for sustainable transport and economic development in India.By addressing infrastructure hurdles, regulatory obstacles, and promoting private sector engagement, India can effectively utilize its water resources to stimulate inclusive growth, reduce logistics costs, and enhance global competitiveness.