ADVERTISEMENTS:
The share of internal navigation in transportation in India is only one per cent. There are about 14,500 navigable waterways in India which include rivers, canals, backwaters and narrow gulfs. At present, there is only 3,700 km length of flat base which is navigable by mechanically operated ferries, of which only 2,000 km is presently being used for navigation. Mechanical boats can be propelled only in 900 km out of 4,300 km long navigable ways. Approximately 180 lakh ton material is transported through these waterways.
Indian Internal Waterways Authority was constituted on 27 October 1986 for development, maintenance and regulation of national waterways of the country. It also provides advice to the Central and state governments regarding development of internal navigable waterways.
The Authority operates projects regarding development of basic infrastructure for internal navigation on national waterways. Its head office is in Noida and it has regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, Kochi and branch offices at Allahabad, Ballia, Bhagalpur, Farrakka and Kollam.
National Waterways:
For giving a important place to internal navigation in national transportation system and for development of internal waterways, the government has declared four important waterways as national water ways.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Ten other waterways are still under consideration for such selection. They are the following:
1. National Waterway No. 1:
This water way has been developed on the Ganga-Bhagirathi and Hooghly system from Allahabad to Haldia which is 1,620 km long. It was selected in October 1986. It begins from the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Allahabad and joins with Ghaghra and Kosi rivers in the North and Sone River in the South. Farakka barrage has been constructed over it.
2. National Waterway No. 2:
It extends from Sadiya to Dhubri up to 891 km in river Brahmaputra. It was selected in September 1988. Devang and Lohit rivers meet Brahmaputra near Sadiya and before Dhubri the famous river Manas of Assam joins it from the North. The world famous Mujoli river island is located in this waterway. After this waterway, Brahmaputra River enters into Bangladesh.
3. National Waterway No. 3:
It has been developed in the western side of Kerala. It extends from Champakar canal (14 km) and Udyog Mandal canal (23 km) and up to Kolam-Kotapuram portion (168 km) of West Coast Canal. It was declared as the national waterway No. 3 in February 1993. It includes Kottapuram-Cochi (0-30 km), Cochi-Alpurma (30-92 km), Alpujha-Kollam (92-168 km) and Champakar canal (14 km) and Udyog Mandal canal (23 km).
ADVERTISEMENTS:
4. National Waterway No.4:
This waterway extends from Kakinada to Marakkanam in Krishna-Godavari Rivers up to 1100 km. Apart from it, 10 other internal waterways have been identified for internal navigation. Special study has been made of Godavari, Sunderban, Krishna, Barak and Brahmani rivers. East Coast canal and Damodar Valley Authority canal etc. The studies report them as feasible.
Except the national waterways, Mandvi and Juari rivers of Goa, Mahanadi delta and the backwaters of Kerala are also being used for internal navigation. Buckingham River and Kambarjua rivers of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are also important navigable canals.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Continuous efforts are being made by the government for development of national internal navigation. Public undertaking in the form of Central Internal Navigation Corporation was set up in 1967 for this purpose. It has its headquarters at Kolkata. This Corporation is mainly engaged in transportation of goods in Ganga-Bhagirathi- Hooghly, Sunderban and Brahmaputra rivers.