Coal news and updates

IWAI developing 4 additional inland waterways

February 20: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken an initiative to develop four more inland waterways after receiving a feasibility study, an official release from the Ministry of Shipping said on February 20. These projects are currently at various stages of development.

According to the study, only the Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch of River Barak in Assam, which is waiting to be declared as National Waterways 6 (NW 6), has been found viable for development so far.

The Mandovi, Zuari Rivers and Cumberjua canal in Goa are still awaiting concurrence from the state government to be declared as a national waterway, despite receiving substantial inland water transport volumes.

The study has found various technical difficulties in the extension project of NW3 towards south of Kollam up to Kovalam and north of Kottapuram up to Kasaragod in Kerala. It has advised the consultant to revise the report on a realistic basis and suggest suitable development plans and implementation mechanism while the government of Maharashtra has been asked to take undertake necessary coastal development of inland waterway transport (IWT) and coastal shipping.

Meanwhile, 22 rivers in the seven north-eastern states were found viable for IWT operation on a small scale. The report was sent to the north-east, asking the respective states to prepare detailed project reports under the central sector scheme for IWT development in the region.