First Inland Waterways Development Council Meeting

Source: This post is based on the article “Shri Sarbananda Sonowal to chair the First Inland Waterways Development Council Meeting to be held tomorrow in Kolkata” published in “PIB” on 7th January 2024.

Why in the news?

The Inland Waterways Authority of India is set to host the inaugural ‘Inland Waterways Development Council’ meeting on January 8, 2023, in Kolkata.

What are the Key Initiatives to be unveiled during the meeting?

1) This will be the first meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council. 

2) The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting boasts a comprehensive agenda that aims to tackle pivotal issues concerning the advancement of inland waterways in India.

3) As part of the agenda, several initiatives, including the “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” and the “River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047” will also be launched at the event.

4) The meeting’s focus will encompass crucial aspects such as fairway development, private sector engagement, and optimizing cargo transport efficiency in Inland Water Transport (IWT).

5) The agenda also includes promoting eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring economic advantages in river cruise tourism, and advocating for sustainable practices in inland waterways development.

What is Inland Waterways Development Council?

1) It was established in October 2023 by the Government of India.

2) It was established to focus on comprehensive development of inland waterways and the associated Inland Water Transport (IWT) ecosystem for improved cargo efficiency, passenger movement, and river cruise tourism, with active participation from States and Union Territories.

What are growth Targets for Cargo and Cruise Sectors?

1)The Ministry aims to raise inland waterways’ cargo modal share from 2% currently to 5% under Maritime India Vision 2030.

2) The 2047 goals envision cargo volumes to rise from 120 million tonnes per annum presently to over 500 million tonnes.

UPSC Syllabus: Indian Economy