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Farakka Barrage land transfer to IWAI gets Cabinet ok

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to transfer of 14.86 hectares of land from the Farakka Barrage Project under the Ministry of Water Resources to Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping for construction of a new navigational lock parallel to the existing navigational lock at Farakka.

The cost of the land is around Rs 2.36 crore which will be borne by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

Construction of the navigational lock is a sub-project of Jal Marg Vikas Project. The new lock will ensure smooth and seamless movement of vessels on NW-1.

There are several advantages behind construction of the new navigation lock at Farakka.
The existing lock is unable to handle the number of vessels currently passing through it efficiently and effectively. At present, considerable time is taken for the vessels to pass the existing navigational lock. Therefore, there is a need for construction of an additional lock to facilitate easy passage of vessels, given the anticipated increase in the number of vessels and volume of cargo expected to pass through it in future after implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project.

The process of modernisation/up-gradation/repair of the existing navigational lock is time consuming and will put it out of operation during the period of repair. Construction of the new navigational lock therefore is an inescapable option for uninterrupted movement of vessels.

IWAI, a statutory body under the Ministry of Shipping, is the nodal authority responsible for regulation and development of inland waterways for the purposes of shipping and navigation. It is, therefore, within its mandate to build, maintain, operate and manage the navigational locks.

The works shall be planned/executed in such a manner that the existing arrangements on sharing of Ganga water at Farakka, as per Ganga Water Treaty-1996 between India and Bangladesh, are not affected.

The Ministry of Shipping would work out detailed modalities for construction of the new navigational lock as well as modernisation of the existing navigational lock at Farakka