A Parliamentary Panel today said the speed of waterway development in the country was not up to the desired level, resulting in non-utilisation of huge potential, and also called for allocation of adequate funds to complete the work in a time-bound manner.
"The Committee observes that pace of waterway development in the country is to not up to the required level. As a result thereof the huge potential remains unutilised/underutilised," a Parliamentary Standing Committee report said.
The report further said the panel also recommended that adequate fund needs to be allocated for waterway development along with time-bound work completion plan which only aid the development of a worthwhile water transport network in the country.
Out of the 106 new national waterways, process has been initiated for development of four national waterways namely Barak in Assam, Gandak and Kosi in Bihar and Ghagra in Uttar Pradesh, it said.
The panel also suggested that the cargo movement through the water mode needs to be entertained in all the viable stretches so that the development of national highways may get a tremendous boost.
"Development works of viable stretches of all National Waterways (NWs) for boosting the movement of cargo are under various stages of implementation. Simultaneously, efforts to mobilise shippers and cargo owners to use inland waterways for transportation of goods will be initiated," it said.
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