REPORT MADE BY CAPT.P.

VASANTH
DATE: 15TH NOVEMBER 2020

INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA

India has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form

of rivers, canals, back waters and creeks.
The total navigable length is 14,500 km out of which about
5,200 km of the river and 4,000 km of canals can be used by
mechanized crafts.
India has a larger network of water bodies in the form of rivers,
canals, lakes and back waters. These long waters provides a
good mode of transport across cities as well as towns like back
waters of Kerala, canals in Gujarat and a few waterways in
Goa, West Bengal and Assam. Still these inland waterways are
unutilized in India as compared to other countries in the world.
Inland waterways Authority of India is working on new projects
for waterways and better water transportation in India.
Freight transportation by waterways is highly under-utilized in
India compared to other large countries and geographic areas
like the United States, China and European Union. The total
cargo moved (in tonne Kilometers) by the inland waterways
was just 0.1% of the total inland traffic in India, compared to
the 21% figure for United States. Cargo transportation in an
organized manner is confined to a few waterways in Goa, West
Bengal, Assam and Kerala.
Water transportation is receiving significant attention in recent
times since logistics cost in India is one of the highest among
major countries. It is 18% in India verses 8-10% in China and
10-12% in Europe Union.
While inland waterways are recognized as a fuel efficient, cost
effective and environment friendly mode of transports, it has
received lesser investment as compared to roads and railways.

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 1

Since inland waterways are lagging behind other modes of
transport the central government has evolved a policy for
integrated development of inland waterways.

INTENT OF THE GOVERMENT THROUGH THIS PLAN

Government says developing the waterways is our top priority.
India currently has five inland waterways while only three are
operational.
India’s waterways has been neglected sector due to lack of
focus and policy measures. India is in the last position in the
world in this sector.
In China 47% of passenger and goods traffic is through water,
in Korea and Japan it is 43-44% and in Europe it is over 40%.
In India it is just 3.3% out of which inland waterways account
for a mere 0.3%. Waterways have the potential to revolutionize
transport. It could contribute at least 2% to the country GDP.
Waterways are cheaper than the rails and road, less polluting
and result in fewer accidents.
Government is also planning to introduce sea-planes, water
buses, over crafts and floating hotels to connect coastal towns
to boost waterways tourism.
CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER GOVERNMENT PLAN
Opposition parties have expressed concerns over the union
government’s plan to turn 111 rivers across India into national
waterways through National waterways Act 2016.
CONCERNS:-
1) The law’s impact on the already drying rivers
2) The law’s impact on the rights of people and
3) The Power of the States to regulate the economy along
the banks of these rivers.
OTHER CONCERNS:-

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 2

 1) Environmental issues and livelihood concerns that may
crop up at a later stage.
2) With rivers drying up, artificially maintaining water levels
in river canals will be challenging on many stretches.
3) The operations of a navigable river would alter the
economics of ecology of the riverine system inalienably.
4) It sets up competing demands on the stressed water
levels with existing users, particularly farmers, who needs
water for irrigation and drinking water demands.
WHAT DOES MAKING A NAVIGABLE WATERWAY
REQUIRE?
1) It requires constant and steady water flow at a set
minimal limit depending on the tonnage of weight to be
shipped. This has to be managed artificially. The river has
to operate like a canal.
2) This will involve the construction of locking barraged to
hold water for vessel movement, concretization and
building of embankments to create port terminals, and
regular (high-intensity) capital dredging of river sediment
deposition along channel bottom and margins.
3) Require huge private investments and participation:- for
funding such large scale operations.

WHAT DOES THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY SAY?

The environment ministry says:-
It will support the waterways plan and while dealing with
“clearance issue”, it will consider a “case to case basis” for
clearances.
Environmental feasibility of each stretch will be taken up only
after detailed project reports are ready.
Environmental ministry to give piece-meal clearances to parties
of a larger integrated project.
Tough Task ahead

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 3

Environment ministry is yet to conduct a river to river study.
Environment ministry should also consider the impact of
Thermal Power and hydro power plants or mining on particular
river basins in a holistic manner.
The reports and recommendations of the environmental
ministry have often been heavily criticized and never binding
on the government.

The law and policy for inland waterways end up treating the
question of environmental and economic sustainability just as
governments have previously dealt with questions over
exploration of natural resources – an issue to be over come
when the time arises.
Water transport is not only environment friendly but also
cheaper than other modes of transport.
It takes lesser time to transport cargo by waterways and the
chances of congestion.
There is a huge potential for Public Private Partnership (PPP)
led investment in dredging, construction, operation and
maintenance of barges, terminals, storage facilities and
navigation as well as tourism. It will help in the generation of
millions of job opportunities.
It will boost maritime trade of the states and augment their
economics.
CHALLENGES:-
Many of the rivers generally remain dry. There is a need to
develop water reservoirs for conservation of rain water to feed
such rivers.
There is a need to estimate the quantum of water required or a
weekly basis throughout the year to maintain the minimum
depth of water in the canals for navigability besides ensuring
that drinking, irrigation and other demands of water do not get
impacted.

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 4

INDIA PLANS TO OVERHAUL RIVERS FOR SHIPPING
Plans to turn the country’s waterways into major shipping
channel will require large scale engineering and linking of river
basin.
The Indian government ambition plan to develop 106 rivers
into integrated inland water Transport (IWT) system have
triggered fierce debate.

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 5

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 6
Government’s plan to turn 111 rivers
across India into national waterways
through National waterways Act 2016.
There are 111 officially notified Inland National Waterways
(NWs) in India identified for the purposes of inland water

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 7

transport, as per The National Waterways Act, 2016. Out of the
111 NWs, 106 were created in 2016. The NW network covers
around 20,275.5 km.
NW-1, 2, & 3 are already operational. Cargo as well as
passenger / cruise vessels are plying on these waterways.
Detailed Project Report(DPR) for development of NW-4 & 5 was
completed in 2010. The DPR of NW 5 was updated in 2014. For
the newly declared 106 NWs, techno-economic feasibility
studies have been initiated.[2]
National waterways in India handled 55 MT in 2017-18 and 72
MT in 2018-19 cargo respectively, and expected to reach 100
MT by fy 2021-22.

The 6 Inland National Waterways

of India

1) National Waterway 1 - Allahabad to Haldia; stretch of

Ganga – Bhagirathi – Hooghly river (1620 Kms) – State of
UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal National waterway
1 – will starts from Allahabad to Haldia with an distance
of  1620 km. The NW 1 run through the Ganges,
Bhagirathi and Hooghly river system with having fixed
terminals at Haldia, Farrakka and Patna and floating
terminals  at most of the riverside cities like Kolkata,
Bhagalpur, Varanasi and Allahabad. It will be the longest
National Waterway in India.
2) National Waterway 2 - will a stretch on Brahmaputra river
from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam state. The NW 2 is one of
the major freight transportation waterway of north east
India and the third longest Waterway with a total length
of 891 km.
3) National waterway 3 – National Waterway 3 or the West
Coast Canal is located in Kerala state and run from Kollam

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 8

 to Kottapuram. The 205 km long West Coast Canal is
India’s first waterway with all time navigation facility. The
NW3 is consist of  West Coast Canal, Champakara Canal
and Udyogmandal Canal and runs through Kottappuram,
Cherthala, Thrikkunnapuzha Kollam and Alappuzha.
4) National Waterway 4 - is connect Kakinada to Pondicherry
through Canals, Tank and River Godavari along with
Krishna river. The NW 4 the second longest waterway of
India with total length of 1078kms declared as National
waterways in 2008 in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu and union territory of Puducherry.
5) National waterway 5 - National Waterway 5 connects
Orissa to West Bengal using the stretch on Brahmani
River, East Coast Canal, Matai river and Mahanadi River
Delta. The 623 km long canal system will handle the
traffic of cargo such as coal, fertilizer, cement and iron.
6) National Waterway 6 - is the proposed waterway in Assam
state and will connect Lakhipur to Bhanga in river Barak.
The 121 km long waterway will help in trading between
town of Silchar to Mizoram State.

National Waterway 1

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 9

National Waterway 2

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 10

National Waterway 3

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 11

National Waterway 4

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 12

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 13
National Waterway 5

National Waterway 6

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 14

INTERLINKING OF RIVERS IN INDIA
Interlinking of Rivers is nothing but joining the rivers of the
country by networks of canals and reservoirs.
Interlinking of rivers in India was proposed for the first time
during British Colonial rule. The main intension of the proposal
was to reduce the transportation cost of raw materials and
finished products. The Indian government has established the
National water Development Agency to study the interlinking of
rivers under the Ministry of Water Resources.
Many states have proposed for interlinking of rivers due to
scarcity of water in their states and hence the central
government is working on a few projects.
Yes – It will reduce the poverty and floods and distributes
water equally.
1) India receives most of the rainfall season from June to
September, most of it falls in northern and Southern and
West part are comparatively low. It will be these places
which will have shortage of water. Inter linking of rivers
will help these areas to have water throughout the year.
2) The main occupation of rural India is agriculture and if
Monsoon fails in a year, then will aggravate rural poverty.
Interlinking of rivers will be practical solution for this
problem, because the water can be stored or water can be
transferred from water surplus area to deficit.
3) The Ganga Basin, Brahmaputra basin sees floods almost
every year. In order to avoid this the water from these
areas has to be diverted to other areas where there is
scarcity of water. This can be achieved by linking the
rivers. There is a two way advantages with this- floods will
be controlled and scarcity of water will be reduced.
4) Interlinking of rivers will also have commercial importance
on a longer run. This can be used as inland waterways
and which helps in faster movement of goods from one
place to other.

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 15

 5) Interlinking creates a new occupation for people living in
and around these canals and it can be the main areas of
fishing in India.

DISADVANTAGES OF INTERLINKING
No - It will be environmental problems, ecological imbalance
and reduce water table.
1) Interlinking will cause high amount of distortion in the
existing environment. In order to create canals and
reservoirs, there will be mass deformations. This will have
impact on rains and in turn affect the whole cycle of life.
2) Usually rivers change their course and direction in 100
years and if this happens after interlinking, then the
project will not be feasible for a long run.
3) Due to interlinking there will be decrease in the amount of
fresh water entering seas and this will cause a serious
threat to the marine life system and will be a major
ecological disaster.
4) Due to creation of canals and reservoirs, high amount of
area which is occupied by the people will be submerged,
leading to displacement of people and government will
have to spend more to rehabilitate people.
5) The amount required for these projects is so high that
government will have to take loan from the foreign
sources.

CONCLUSION
Interlinking of rivers is definitely a good solution for the
scarcity of the waters, but interlinking has to take place after a
detailed study so that it does not cause any problem to the
environment or aquatic life.
From the above disadvantages of interlinking it may look that it
will not be possible to have interlinking of the rivers, but let us
draw inspiration from the British who in the eighteenth century

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 16

wanted to have direct connection from Madras (Chennai) to
London, so they built the artificial Chennai Harbor in 1866, the
fruit of which we Indians are enjoying today. So let us give an
opportunity to the experts to make this interlinking a
successful one.

Made by: CAPT. PARTHASARATHY VASANTH

Faculty : HIMT College

CAPT.P.VASANTH INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA 17