The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) convened its second meeting under the leadership of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, at Kohora, Kaziranga. The event witnessed significant announcements, including an investment of over Rs 500 billion over the next five years to enhance inland waterway infrastructure across India. The IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), unveiled projects worth Rs 14 billion in 21 states. Among the key initiatives announced was the Riverine Community Development Scheme, aimed at boosting the socio-economic conditions of riverine communities through trade, tourism, skill development, and improved infrastructure along the waterways. Key announcements: Launch of 1,000 Green Vessels: Part of a strategy to promote sustainable transportation. National River Traffic and Navigation System: Introduced to ensure seamless vessel movement and safety. Expansion of River Cruise Tourism: Plans to establish 10 sea cruise terminals, 100 river cruise terminals, and five marinas under the Cruise Bharat Mission. Regional highlights: Northeast India: A Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh was announced, alongside new tourist jetties and ship repair facilities in Assam. Significant investments are allocated for the comprehensive development of waterways, including NW-2 and river Barak. Andhra Pradesh: Six floating steel jetties to be constructed on river Godavari (NW-4). Feasibility studies for NW-79 and development plans for NW-4 were also announced. Goa: Ten community jetties and additional projects on major rivers were approved. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: New jetties and green vessels on rivers Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus for tourism and urban transportation were announced. Uttar Pradesh: Eight floating jetties in Mathura, two steel jetties in Ayodhya, and a ship repair facility in Ghazipur were revealed. Growth in inland waterways: Union Minister Sonowal emphasised that operational waterways have increased by 767% since 2014, with cargo volume on national waterways surging from 18 million tonnes a decade ago to 133 million tonnes in FY 2023-24. Key legislative reforms like the National Waterways Act 2016 and Inland Vessels Act 2021 have streamlined development and operations in this sector. Jalvahak scheme: The recently launched scheme, which incentivises long-haul cargo movement on rivers Ganga (NW-1), Brahmaputra (NW-2), and Barak (NW-16), is now being extended to additional states. The scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming India's transportation infrastructure. The IWDC, established in 2023, continues to foster collaborative federalism, unlocking the economic potential of India's inland waterways and paving the way for sustainable growth and development. (Pib.gov)