Development of waterways

17/08/2017

Jammu and Kashmir has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers but the same has remained un-utilized till date. This is notwithstanding the fact that waterways, if properly developed, can serve for the transportation activities as well as recreational centres for the tourists visiting the State. Waterways development has been declared as priority sector by the Union Government due to its lower fare cost as compared to rail and road transport and from tourism promotion point of view. Government of India has already directed the Inland Waterways Authority of India, which is the only organization in the country entrusted with the task of development and regulation of inland waterways for different purposes, to identify viable waterways in the country for their phased development. A team of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is visiting Jammu and Kashmir from August 28 to work out the modalities for tapping the network of inland waterways in the State for recreational and transportation activities. In this regard, Chenab, Indus, Jhelum and Ravi rivers have already been declared as National Waterways and notified in the Gazette of India.
To initiate further steps for development of waterways in Jammu and Kashmir a team of Inland Waterways Authority of India led by its Chairperson NutanGuhaBiswas is visiting State from August 28.
The team will have a detailed meeting with the Chief Secretary, Secretary Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Department and other officers for finalization of draft feasibility report of River Jhelum. Surveys, studies, feasibility report and formulation of DPR for extended scope for Jhelum, Chenab and Indus Rivers will also be deliberated upon in the meeting. The team will also visit Chenab River either in Reasi or Akhnoor to identify the stretches for development of waterways for transportation and recreational activities, sources informed. The assessment is imperative as at present preparatory work is being undertaken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India so as to categorize the National Waterways for development in phases. It would be only after detailed assessment of all the aspects that IWAI would be able to decide as to under which category the inland waterways of Jammu and Kashmir will have to be placed for development with the assistance of Government of India.
It is pertinent to mention here that State Government has made numerous requests to the Union Government that navigation of Jhelum traditionally through Jetties can be restarted as the same is in the interest of State tourism and commercial purposes. About the fate of Tulbul Navigation Project, which was suspended in the year 1987 due to certain objections from Government of Pakistan, sources said that due to suspension the cost of the project increased from Rs 46.92 crore to Rs 160 crore.

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