SOME INTERESTING FACTS

Transcription

1 SR INDEX TOPIC PAGE NO NO 1 INLAND WATERWAYS OF INDIA - MAP PAGE 2 OF 13 2 INTRODUCTION, ROLE OF INLAND WATERWAYS IN INDIA PAGE 3 OF 13 3 THE CRITERIA LAID DOWN FOR DECLARATION OF NATIONAL WATERWAY PAGE 4 OF 13 4 ADVANTAGES AND IMPORTANT FEATURES OF INLAND WATERWAYS PAGE 4 OF 13 5 SITUATION IN GOA PAGE 5 OF 13 6 GOOGLE IMAGE OF CUMBHARJUA CANAL PAGE 6 OF 13 7 RIVER BASIN MAP OF GOA PAGE 7 OF 13 8 CHAPORA AND TEREKHOL BASINS PAGE 8 OF 13 9 VARIOUS OPTIONS PAGE 9 OF CONSTRAINTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INLAND WATERWAYS PAGE 10 OF RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE 11 OF SOME PHOTOS PAGE 12 OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND REFERENCES PAGE 13 OF 13

2 SOME INTERESTING FACTS Kerala s inland water service is all set to promote inland navigation in Kochi. For this 40 new boats under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has been introduced for ferry services in Kochi and Kerala State Water Transport Department has provided Rs 5 crore for the purchase of new boats and another 6 crore has been earmarked for the renovation of barges and jetties. This proposal will tap the potential of the State s Inland water transport system.kochi, one of the best ports in India has a wide network of water bodies linking various places and suburbs to the city. It is perhaps the only city in India, which has the exceptional credential of the Queen of Arabian Sea. (Source - ) Page 2 of 14

3 INLAND WATERWAY ATERWAYS OF INDIA Indian Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has completed hydrographic survey in five sectors known as NW-1, NW-2, NW- 3, NW-4 and NW-5. Brief description of these stretches is given in above Figure 1 which shows the index map of all the waterways.

4 Introduction: - Inland waterway means - Canals, lakes, rivers, water courses, inlets, and bays that, is navigable if it is deep, wide and slow enough for a vessel to pass and are nearest to the shores of a nation and subject to its complete sovereignty. Inland waters, also known as internal waters, are subject to the total sovereignty of the country as much as if they were an actual part of its land territory. Important requirements There should be few or no obstructions such as rocks or trees which pose difficulty in navigation. Must enable sufficient clearance wherever bridges. High water speed may make a channel un-navigable. A small river may be navigable by smaller craft, such as a motor boat or a kayak, but unnavigable by a cruise ship. Shallow rivers may be made navigable by the installation of locks that increase and regulate water depth, or by dredging. Whether or not particular waters are to be regarded as inland waters has traditionally been dependent upon historical and geographical factors. Certain types of shoreline configurations have been regarded as confining bodies of water, such as bays. In addition, there has been a recognition that other areas of water that are closely connected to the shore may be regarded as inland waters based upon the manner in which they have been treated by the coastal nation, although they do not meet any exact geographical test. Role of Inland Waterways in India: - An efficient transport sector is vital for development of the economy of any country. In a large country like India, efficient transportation becomes pivotal to stimulate competitive business environment. Indian transport system comprises various modes, viz; Railways, Roadways, Inland Waterways, Coastal Shipping and Airways. India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways, which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. About 55 million tons of cargos are being moved annually by Inland Water Transport (IWT), in a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode. Its operations are currently restricted to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River, the Brahmaputra, the Barak River, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari-Krishna rivers. Page 4 of 14

5 Besides the organized operations by mechanized vessels, country boats of various capacities also operate in various rivers and canals. Substantial quantum of cargo and passengers are transported in this unorganized sector as well. The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly between Allahabad-Haldia (1620 km) in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, the Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of river Brahmaputra (891 km) in Assam and the Kollam-Kottapuram stretch of West Coast Canal along with Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals (205 km) in Kerala have so far been declared as national Waterways and are being developed for navigation by IWAI. The criteria laid down for declaration of national waterway are a) It should be capable of navigation by mechanically propelled vessels of a reasonable size. b) It should have 45 m wide channel with a minimum depth of 1.5 m. c) It should be continuous stretch of 50 km except in urban areas. d) It should pass through and serve the interest of more than one state, connect vast hinterland and major ports and connect places not served by any other modes of transport. The above guidelines were formulated by the National Transport Policy Committee Report (1980) recommending various measures for development of IWT in the country. Advantages and Important features of Inland Waterways in India Inland Water Transport (IWT) is a fuel efficient, environment friendly and cost effective mode of transport having potential to supplement the over burdened rail and congested roads. Inland waterways have provided crucial arteries for communication and trade for millions of rural people since before the invention of the wheel. Yet in todays transport climate dominated by mechanized vehicles and roads, traditional water thoroughfares have been neglected and de-prioritized. Inland water transport (IWT) in rural areas primarily consists of small, un-mechanized country crafts/boats or canoes, which ply the river and canal networks. These 'country boats' are usually multi-tasking for a variety of users, providing; transport services, trading opportunities, employment & food through fishing & access to markets. IWT was an important mode of transport and navigation by power crafts/country boats played significant role in the development of trade and commerce along several rivers and canals. Page 5 of 14

6 The Situation in Goa Goa is strategically located with good transportation facilities like excellent road and rail network; centrally located airport; and well-developed seaports. The state of Goa has about 555 kms of inland waterways out of which only 255 kms are navigable through the rivers Mondovi, Zuari and their tributaries. Out of their total length, the better part is being used by the mining and export industry for transportation of iron ore to the port of Mormugao, from the loading points in the hinterlands. If these waterways are properly harnessed they will provide quick and economical transportation facilities for both passengers and cargo traffic. Goa waterways are among the ten waterways identified by the National Transport Policy Committee (NTPC). These waterways comprises of Mondovi, Zuari Rivers and Cumbharjua canal having a length of about 122 kms. The waterways are fully functional with about 15 million tonnes annual cargo movement which mainly consists of iron ore from mines to Marmagoa Port. Water Transport: Goa has a well developed internal water transport network formed by a grid of navigable rivers. This offers industries a most economical mode of transport for their goods and raw material throughout the State. The barges that ply the internal water network are swift, efficient and most important, reliable. Port: Mormugao port is one of the best all weather natural ports in India. It can accommodate over 50 ships in outer anchorage. Port has mechanized loading facility, an oil berth and a general cargo berth. There are also another six minor ports, which have tremendous potential to improve trade facilities. Excellent all weather international port with multipurpose general cargo berth and fully containerized service operations. The State can be front runner in the development of the Indian economy due to the vast hinterland that it commands. There is immense scenic beauty prevailing on the banks and within the purview if one travels by canoe across inland waters. Bu there is very limited or no information available about all the hydrography of all the inland water-bodies of Goa which are already navigable by canoe or shallow water small boats. Apart from the information required about other waterways, Goa has concerns over its own. Newspaper reports express concern over the annual formation of a sandbar at Aguada bay. Page 6 of 14

7 The sand bar prevents vessels of drafts greater then 3.20m from plying upstream, hence bringing to the fore the need is to discuss the issue of dredging. The government is therefore apprehensive about nationalizing waterways which is proposed by central government. The concern is that increased traffic will cause bottlenecks and result in accidents, oil leaks and pollution of the environment. It is interesting to note that Cumbharjua canal having a length of about 122 kms was developed to allow barge traffic which was integral part of mining development in Goa. This canal was developed after doing excavation and creating artificial connection between Mandovi and Zuari River thereby enabling interior mines from north and south goa to transport iron ore via inland waterways. Refer to the below given google image figure 2 showing Cumbharjua Canal. Figure 2 Shows blue line marking Cumbharjua Canal The state of Goa has many inland waterways navigable through the rivers like Mandovi, Zuari and its tributaries. Many places/islands are accessible or reachable by means of inland water ways due to lack of bridges or suitable means of transport. Through these waterways, the River Navigation is sure, certain and affordable transport facilities for both passengers and cargo traffic. Page 7 of 14

8 The Captain of Ports is in charge of all activities of inland waterways of Goa, and also implements the following Acts and Rules: (1) The Inland Vessels Act, (2) The Goa, Daman and Diu Barge Tax Act, (3) The Goa, Daman and Diu Barge (Taxation of Goods) Act, (4) The Goa, Daman and Diu Ports Rules, (5) The Indian Ports Act, Inland waters of Goa - emphasis on Terekhol and Chapora Rivers Figure 3 Shows blue line marking rivers and water bodies of Goa Page 8 of 14

9 Commonly known rivers (fig.3 above) of Goa from north to south are namely Terekhol River, Kalna River, Khadshi River, Chapora River, Baga River, Anjuna River, Moide River, Mapusa River, Bicholim River, Valvanti River, Mandovi River, Kudne River, Kumbharjuve River, Mhadei river, Kotrachi River, Surla River, DevchRiver, Zuari River, banaulim River, Sal River, Ugem River, Paroda River, Khushali River, Guleli River, Khandepar river, Dudhsagar River, Jamboti River, Ragada River, Agonda River, Talpona River, Galjibag River, Loliem River, etc. Most or all the rivers are navigable by small boat or canoe and most of them support primary economic activities. Some activities totally dependent on water bodies are sand mining, pebble/gravel supply, fishing, and means of transport in some interior parts mainly islands of Goa are only connected by inland ferry boats or small boats. There is important activity related to inland tourism if all the possible inland waters are developed extensively to promote as additional activity to attract tourists and generate revenue. This will enable take away pressures from overcrowded beaches and new areas related to ecotourism could be developed if planned, controlled, regulated, systematic, responsible and professionally managed tourism is taken up by utilizing inland waterways. Figure 4 Google Image shows Terekhol and Chapora Rivers Terekhol and Chapora River basins Terekhol River as well as Chapora River both originate in Maharashtra and ultimately discharge their waters in Goa.

10 Sand mining is predominant in both rivers serving primary economy but also leading to erosion and related environmental problems. Fishing and aquaculture is also carried out in tributaries and main river waters. However there is very low or almost absence of utilization of these rivers as inland waterways. Below given are possible ways to develop inland waterways in above both rivers and explore various options. 1. Considering recent ban on mining which has resulted in considerable revenue deficit has made it necessary for the Goa state to find many other ways to generate revenue and developing inland waterways especially for tourism purpose could be one of the major means to rejuvenate economy. 2. It is also possible to develop special concept like developing each village around selected inland water as small eco-friendly jetty which will display local products (fruits, food items, agri-products, local crafts,etc) and other specialty items for sale. Tourists or travelers could pause at these spots to enjoy local products resulting in economic exchange. Example on Chapora river there is Alorna fort which was historically important place for receiving and storage food grains and commodities being first fort on Goa Maharashtra border. Even today this port is waiting to be developed. 3. It is possible to develop a tour from Terekhol River or from any point of Goa to Alorna Fort which is most interior and though small for of just over 6000m2 area, there are many beautiful destinations on the inland waterway. As described above it is possible to develop network of services and products to support economy and generate direct as well as indirect employment. Figure 5 Google Image shows Alorna Fort on the banks of Chapora River Page 10 of 14

11 Precautions for developing inland ecotourism are same as those mentioned in next pages for developing any other inland waterways but more importantly there is need to ensure education of travelers and tourists towards sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems, to allow only those boats which will not pollute waters in any way especially by oil pollution, noise pollution, extra turbulence, limited number of boats and specific timings. Although safety and navigational aids for travelers, tourists and boats is important more care is required tom ensure that greed of economy does not destroy serenity, aesthetic and holistic attribute of inland water ecosystems. Constraints in the Development of Inland Waterways Diversion of water for irrigation, industrial and other needs reducing the flows in the rivers resulting in the reduction of depth and shoal formation. { A shoal, sandbar (or just bar in context), sandbank or gravel bar is a somewhat linear landform within or extending into a body of water, typically composed of sand, silt or small pebbles. A spit or sandpit is a type of shoal. Shoals are characteristically long and narrow (linear) and develop where a stream or ocean current promotes deposition of granular material, resulting in localized shallowing (shoaling) of the water.} Excessive silt loads from erosion of uplands due to bad catchment management and increased deforestation. Inadequate river conservancy measures, resulting in gradual deterioration of waterways. Non availability of adequate navigational aids resulting in unsafe passage and high travel time. Inadequate vertical and horizontal clearances for plying vessels of economic size in many traditional waterway routes. Lack of adequate terminal facilities at the loading and unloading points being nonexistent and where existent being inadequate. Causes disturbance to sensitive species in the inland waters. Turbulence and excessive shocks may affect aquatic ecosystems in long run. The concern is that increased traffic will cause bottlenecks and result in accidents, oil leaks and pollution of the environment. Page 11 of 14

12 Recommendations 1. The navigable waterways lack the needed infrastructure such as navigational aids, terminals, night time visibility and communication facilities. 2. Though there is tremendous economic potential of inland ecotourism as suggested, there is need to have complete regulatory control right from selection of boat type, safety aspects of travelers as well as ecology and related developments also should be planned, regulated and under complete control to ensure sustainability. 3. Prevention of run- off and preservation of water should be planned in all rivers to retain the present discharge level and to augment the lean season discharge which would not only facilitate improved navigability but also result in availability of water for other purposes. 4. In all multi-purpose projects in water resource management, the navigational component should be identified at the inspection stage and provisions made to derive the maximum navigational potential. This is applicable in case of dams canalization and also in planning of diversions as part of flood season. Preservation of existing canals, lakes etc. is an essential ingredient of environmental protection. 5. It is merely not necessary to consider economic gains while planning for future developments like inland ecotourism or nationalization of waterways in Goa but need to consider that traditional practices and activities which have so far supported primary support to locals is enhanced and developed without ecological impacts. 6. It is also possible to have mini dry docks or small floating pontoons to enable alongside berthing. This will enable to avoid building / construction impacts on waterbodies. 7. There is need to conduct proper feasibility and impact study by team of experts and locals with detailed guidelines on all the aspects of development including sustainability. Page 12 of 14

13 Below given are some photos showing features and components of inland waterways. Ship Petrol boat in operation Bank Protection IWT Terminal at Maradu Loading of Cargo at Aluva Small jetties along the banks Evening scene on the canoe bank Page 13 of 14

14 Sources of Information and References 1. Information / data / facts figures from Dept. of Captain of Ports Panaji - Goa. 2. Inland Waterways Authority of India website Field experience being local resident in near proximity of Chapora and Terekhol river. Websites such as given below URLs a. mb4iur/k6ffsigalmhaprz4mgltwd2h87fptzq8tm8+mlw== b. c. d. e. Page 14 of 14