Waterways Transport Service
For declaration of 101 more inland waterways as National Waterways, a Bill was introduced in the Budget Session of the Parliament in 2015. The Bill was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism & Culture for examination. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, a draft Cabinet Note for moving the “Official Amendments to the National Waterways Bill, 2015” for declaration of 106 new waterways as National Waterways has been submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat on 16.11.2015 for consideration. A list of 106 waterways state -wise is given below:
| S.No. | State | No. of rivers / canal | Name of the River / Canal |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 2 | Pennar and Tungabhadra |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 1 | Lohit |
| 3 | Assam | 14 | Aai, Barak, Beki, Dhansiri / Chathe, Dehing, Dikhu, Doyans, Gangadhar, Jinjiram, Kopili, Lohit, Puthimari, Subansiri and Tlwang (Dhaleswari) |
| 4 | Bihar | 6 | Gandak, Ghaghra, Karamnasa, Kosi, Punpun and Sone |
| 5 | Delhi | 1 | Yamuna |
| 6 | Goa | 6 | Chapora, Cumberjua, Mandovi, Mapusa, Sal and Zuari |
| 7 | Gujarat | 5 | Luni – Rann of Kutch, Mahi, Narmada, Sabarmati and Tapi |
| 8 | Haryana | 2 | Indira Gandhi Canal and Yamuna |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | 3 | Beas, Ravi and Sutlej |
| 10 | Jammu & Kashmir | 4 | Chenab, Indus, Jhelum and Ravi |
| 11 | Jharkhand | 2 | Kherkai and Subarnarekha |
| 12 | Karnataka | 11 | Bheema, Ghataprabha, Gurupur, Kabini, Kali, Malaprabha, Netravathi, Panchagangavali (Panchagangoli), Sharavati, Tungabhadra and Udayavara |
| 13 | Kerala | 4 | Avm Canal, Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal, Alappuzha- Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal and Kottayam-Vaikom Canal |
| 14 | Maharashtra | 14 | Amba, Arunawati – Aran, Dabhol Creek – Vashishti river, Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway (including Vasai Creek &Ulhas river), Manjara, Nag, Narmada, Penganga – Wardha, Rajpuri Creek, Revadanda creek – Kundalika River, Savitri, Shastri / Jaigad, Tapi and Wainganga – Pranahita |
| 15 | Meghalaya | 5 | Ganol, Jinjiram, Kynshi, Simsang And Umngot (Dawki) |
| 16 | Mizoram | 1 | Tlwang (Dhaleswari) |
| 17 | Nagaland | 1 | Tizu – Zungki |
| 18 | Odisha | 5 | Baitarni, Birupa – BadiGenguti – Brahmani, BudhaBalanga, Mahanadi and Subarnarekha |
| 19 | Punjab | 3 | Beas, Indira Gandhi Canal and Sutlej |
| 20 | Rajasthan | 4 | Chambal, Indira Gandhi Canal, Jawai and Luni |
| 21 | TamilNadu | 9 | AVM Canal, Bhavani, Kaveri – Kollidam, Manimutharu, Palar, Pazhyar, Ponniyar, Tamaraparani and Vaigai |
| 22 | Telangana | 5 | Bheema, Manjara, Penganga – Wardha, Tungabhadra and Wainganga – Pranahita |
| 23 | Uttar Pradesh | 10 | Asi, Betwa, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghra, Gomti, Karamnasa, Tons, Varuna and Yamuna |
| 24 | West Bengal | 15 | Ajoy, Bakreswar – Mayurakshi, Damodar, DVC Canal, Dwarekeswar, Dwarka, Gangadhar, Ichamati, Jalangi, Kumari, Mahananda, Rupnarayan, Silabati, Subarnarekha, Sunderbans Waterway (including Bidya – ChhotaKalagachi (ChhotoKalergachi) – Gomar – Haribhanga – Hogla (Hogal) / Pathankhali – Kalindi (Kalandi) – Katakhali – Matla – Muri Ganga (Baratala) – Raimangal – Sahibkhali (Sahebkhali) – Saptamukhi – Thakurran) |
Rivers namely AVM Canal, Bhavani, Kaveri – Kollidam, Manimutharu, Palar, Pazhyar, Ponniyar, Tamaraparani and Vaigai of Tamil Nadu have been included in the list of 106 waterways proposed for declaration as national waterways. However, Tamil Nadu Government vide their letter dated 02.11.2015(received on 17.11.2015) has suggested for the following stretches of canal / rivers only for declaring as national waterways:
- I) Under Kakinada – Puducherry canal
- a) AP – Tamil Nadu border Pulicot Lake to Ennore (approximately 25 km)
- b) OkkiyamThorapakkam to Kaluvely Tank (Near Tamil Nadu Puduchery border approximately 103 km.)
- II) Under AVM Canal, Poovar to Erayumanthurai
Kollancode (Tamil Nadu – Kerala Border) to Erayumanthurai (approximately 09 km) – Thangapattinam (approximately 03 km) – Mandaikaduputhoor(approximately 17 km) – Manakudikayal confluence point of Pazhaiyar river with Arabian sea, (approximately 16 km) in Tamil Nadu.
Out of the above waterways, the Kakinada – Puducherry canal stretch has already beendeclared as a national waterway and is part of National Waterway-4.
Process for carrying out TEF study / preparation of Detail Project Reports for the waterways included in the Bill has been initiated. Likely investments required for the purpose will be known after completion of the study. Decision for allocation of funds for development of new National Waterways will be taken thereafter.
This information was given by Minister of State for Shipping, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
Source :Press Information Bureau, Govt of India,Ministry of Shipping 03-December, 2015