Uttar Pradesh

• 27 Jan 2025

News Regional Office of Inland Waterways Authority

Why in News? 

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) upgraded its sub-office in Varanasi into a regional office to effectively implement Inland Water Transport (IWT) activities on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) along the River Ganga.  

 Key Points 

• IWAI Regional Offices: 
  • The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) operates under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. 
  • It currently has five regional offices in Guwahati (Assam), Patna (Bihar), Kochi (Kerala), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), and Kolkata (West Bengal). 
  • The newly established regional office in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), becomes the sixth. 
    • The Varanasi office will manage operations over a 487-kilometre stretch from Majhua to the Varanasi Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) and up to Prayagraj. 
    • It will also oversee works related to other National Waterways (NWs) in Uttar Pradesh. 
• Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): 
  • The office will prioritize implementing the World Bank-supported Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). 
  • It aims to enhance the capacity of River Ganga (NW-1) through: 
    • River conservancy works such as bandalling and maintenance dredging. 
    • Construction of key infrastructure, including MMTs at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, an intermodal terminal at Kalighat, and a new navigational lock at Farakka (West Bengal). 
    • Promoting cruise tourism and seamless cargo movement along the waterway. 
    • Development of Community Jetties: 
      • Under JMVP, 60 community jetties are being constructed across four states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. 
      • These jetties aim to benefit local commuters, small and marginal farmers, artisans, and fishing communities. 
      • The Varanasi Regional Office will monitor and ensure efficient execution of these activities. 
• National Waterways in Uttar Pradesh: 
  • Uttar Pradesh has around 30 rivers, with 10 declared as National Waterways. 
  • The office will oversee development works on River Ganga and its tributaries, including Betwa, Chambal, Gomti, Tons, Varuna, Gandak, Ghagra, Karamnasa, and Yamuna. 

 Inland Waterways Authority of India 

• It came into existence on 27^th October 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. 
• It primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping. 

 Inland Water Transport (IWT) 

• About: 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
• Socio-Economic Benefits of IWT: 
  • Cheaper operating cost and relatively lesser fuel consumption 
  • Less polluting mode of transportation 
  • Lesser requirement of land relative to other modes of transportation 
  • More environment friendly mode of transportation 
  • Moreover, waterways can be used for recreational purposes such as boating and fishing.  

Dhanauri Wetland

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit the status of notifying the Dhanauri water body near Jewar airport as a wetland within four weeks.  

 Key Points 

• State Government's Stand: 
  • The Uttar Pradesh’s counsel stated that the government is in the process of notifying Dhanauri as a wetland. 
  • The NGT bench questioned the need for three months to complete the notification process when the site has already been identified for wetland status. 
• The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO): 
  • The DFO of Gautam Buddha Nagar informed the NGT through an affidavit that the proposed Dhanauri wetland spans 112.89 hectares. 
  • The area primarily includes privately owned land located across the villages of Dhanauri Kalan, Thasrana, and Amipur Bangar in the Sadar tehsil of Gautam Buddha Nagar. 
  • The DFO requested three months to consult with landowners and obtain their consent before proceeding with further action. 
• Wetland Notification and Ramsar Site Process: 
  • State governments can notify lakes and water bodies as wetlands for protection. 
  • Ramsar site designation requires approval from the Central Government, based on recommendations by state governments. 
  • Wetlands qualifying under ecological and biodiversity criteria are identified under the international Ramsar Convention treaty of 1971, which ensures special conservation measures. 

 Dhanauri Wetland 

• Location: 
  • Situated in Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. 
  • Lies close to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Surajpur Wetland. 
  • Positioned within the floodplains of the Yamuna Basin, about 15 km from the River Yamuna. 
• Ecological Significance: 
  • Composed mainly of marshes, the wetland is an essential habitat for the vulnerable Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone). 
  • Hosts a variety of bird species, including: 
    • Common teal 
    • Mallard 
    • Northern pintail 
    • Greylag geese 
    • Bar-headed geese 
    • Woolly-necked stork 
    • Black-necked stork 
    • Painted stork 
    • Eurasian marsh harrier 
• Conservation Status: 
  • Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.