Why is it in the News

The Inland Waterways Authority of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), is set to host the inaugural 'Inland Waterways Development Council' meeting on January 8, 2023, in Kolkata.

Key Initiatives to be Unveiled during the Meeting:

• Marking the first session of the Inland Waterways Development Council.
• The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting will address vital issues related to the advancement of inland waterways in India through a comprehensive agenda.
• Initiatives such as the “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” and the “River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047” will be launched as integral components of the agenda.
• The meeting will center on critical aspects like fairway development, private sector engagement, and enhancing cargo transport efficiency in Inland Water Transport (IWT).
• The agenda will also focus on promoting eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring economic benefits in river cruise tourism, and advocating for sustainable practices in the development of inland waterways.

What is the Inland Waterways Development Council?

• The Government of India established the Inland Waterways Development Council in 2023 with the active aim of comprehensively developing inland waterways and the associated Inland Water Transport (IWT) ecosystem.
• The focus is on improving cargo efficiency, facilitating passenger movement, and promoting river cruise tourism, with the active engagement of States and Union Territories.

About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):

• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) came into existence on 27th October 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
• The Authority primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping.
• The head office of the Authority is at Noida.
• The Authority also has its regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati and Kochi and sub-offices at Allahabad, Varanasi, Farakka, Sahibganj, Haldia, Swroopganj, Hemnagar, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Silchar, Kollam, Bhubaneswar  and Vijayawada.