Govt to bring National Waterway bills

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The union cabinet tonight gave approval for enactment of legislation to upgrade major canal and river systems on the East Coast as National Waterways for the purpose of shipping and navigation for mechanically propelled vessels.

Canal and river systems in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherri would be covered under the proposed law, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

The Kakinada-Puducherri stretch of canals, the Talcher-Dhamra stretch of Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra river system along with Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast canal, the Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mahanadi delta river system between Mangalgadi and Paradip would be declared national waterways, he said.

An estimated Rs 542 crore would be spent to develop infrastructure facilities in the Kakinada-Puducherri stretch of canals consisting of the Kakinada, Eluru, Commamur and Buckingham canals besides the Kaluvelly tank along with Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of river Godavari and Wazirabad-Vijayawada stretch of river Krishna.

Another Rs 1,526 crore is estimated to be spent for preparation of projects and schemes for development of infrastructure facilities in the Talcher-Dhamra stretch of Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra river system along with Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, the Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mahanadi delta river system between Mangalgadi and Paradip, the Minister informed.

Once they are declared as national waterways, the central government would control the regulation and development of the stretches for the purpose of shipping and navigation on the national waterway.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India would be the implementing agency and approval of Competent Authority would be sought latest by 2007-08 for its implementation, Mr Dasmunshi said.

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